After a notable win against Portland, the LA Clippers could not complete the back-to-back with a loss to the Utah Jazz. Since tip off, this game seemed to be a tough one. Each time the Clippers made a scoring run, the Jazz responded. As a result, Lue and his squad were fatigued toward the end of the contest.
Furthermore, the biggest reason the Clippers lost was that most of the star players were injured. Not only was Lue without his superstar duo, but some of his best players in, Luke Kennard and Norman Powell, were also facing health issues.
If the Clippers aim for a deep postseason run, they must attain a healthy roster. The defense may be able to find its way, but the offense will continue to struggle with no consistent flow. There is only so much Lue can expect from his role players night in and night out.
On the bright side, rookie big man Moussa Diabaté is slowly but surely finding his way into the rotation. Throughout the loss to Utah, Diabaté played 16 minutes and posted a +/- of +7. Additionally, he ended the game with 11 points and eight rebounds on 4-8 shooting. That said, Diabaté continues to prove that he is worthy of the backup center position.
The LA Clippers’ struggles were clear on the tail end of a back-to-back.
As of right now, the LA Clippers stand at 13-10. They will need their superstar talents to return before they move back even further. Fortunately, the Western Conference is very tight. This gives the LA Clippers some breathing room, as they are only three games back from the first seed.
Moreover, play-making point guard John Wall played phenomenally despite the loss. He closed the night with 26 points and five assists in only 25 minutes of playing time. If Wall can thrive off the bench, the LA Clippers will be a nightmare for opposing teams.
John Wall had a season-high 26 PTS, 5 AST in 25 MINS off the bench!
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 1, 2022
He's averaging 19.7 PTS (56% FG), 5 AST over his last 3 games. pic.twitter.com/gbUN6vlolV
In addition, the shooting efficiencies for the LA Clippers were extremely shocking. The entire team shot 39.8% from the field, 33.3% from three, and 77.8% from the line. This shows that with a shorthanded roster, Lue and his squad will eventually run their tanks empty. What’s more, the Clippers were out-rebounded, giving the Jazz multiple opportunities to build on their lead.
Though the LA Clippers have two days off, their next contest is at home against the Sacramento Kings. If Lue is without his stars again, the coaching staff will have to game-plan by forcing stops on the defensive end. This will create opportunities for the offense, giving the Clippers just enough to pull out a win.