The shorthanded Clippers struggle to find a loophole in a loss to Phoenix

Though the LA Clippers lost by 16 points, head coach Tyronn Lue and his players had the correct mindset from start to finish. In the absence of nearly half of the rotation, Lue tried his best to push a comeback against the title-contending Phoenix Suns. While there are many ways to perceive this loss, fans should note that an injury-riddled Clippers team coerced Phoenix to fight until the end.

Although there weren’t many positive signs, the slashing wing Terance Mann showed the world how dominant he could be when the ball is in his hands. Not only did he score 22 points on 8-14 shooting, but Mann also added 11 rebounds and four assists. He was doing everything he could to keep the Clippers in the battle.

That said, it became inevitable that Lue would encounter difficulties winning this one without some of his best players. These injuries can be very frustrating, as every time the Clippers find a rhythm, they lose some of their most vital rotational pieces.

For most of the game, the LA Clippers did not show much urgency on the defensive end. Players were constantly giving up offensive rebounds, which kept the Clippers from sparking a scoring run.

Time is running out as the LA Clippers continue to struggle 30+ games into the season.

On the offensive end, the LA Clippers were not moving the basketball to find open looks around the perimeter. This is the main reason the team shot 37.8% from the field. Regardless of health issues, this percentage is inexcusable, mainly because they added 16 turnovers.

In a game where several players are injured, critical pieces in John Wall and Marcus Morris must step up to give their team a chance to win. Instead, these two posted a combined 26 points on 9-25 shooting. Additionally, Wall and Morris finished with six turnovers while shooting 4-13 from a distance.

Furthermore, it may be time for the front office to make a move as the Clippers’ depth has yet to come to life. Even when the team is fully healthy, it appears as if the same players have to step up each night. This lack of help explains why the LA Clippers stand with a record of 17-14.

Moreover, the LA Clippers receive a day of rest before their match-up against the Washington Wizards. They should come out on top if Lue has most of his players back. However, as seen earlier, Washington is a talented team who can compete with the best of the best. Therefore the Clippers will have to build a lead from the jump to put the Wizards in a challenging situation.