Just by doing a roster check on the Guangzhou Loong-Lions, fans of the LA Clippers instantly knew they should not underestimate them. Some names were recognizable, but the most notable was Victor Oladipo, a two-time All-Star for the Indiana Pacers, who cooked the Clippers through the first frame with nine points.
Although Oldadipo's nine points were concerning, the Clippers were only up by three after the first quarter, and they had allowed six made three-pointers. This equates to 18 of their total 30 points in 12 minutes.
Furthermore, the regular-season let-down on perimeter coverage is already being predicted, as the Clippers failed in their defensive mission versus the Loong-Lions, hinting at a much worse in the next few months.
That said, the Clippers turned a three-point first-quarter lead into a 47-point blowout win, yet Tyronn Lue should not disregard the team's most obvious weakness ahead of the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
The LA Clippers made it too easy for the Guangzhou Loong-Lions to score from beyond the arc
With momentum from three-point land, the Guangzhou Loong-Lions finished the LA Clippers' preseason opener shooting 40.5%. This is an atrocious stat for Clipper Nation to view, as close-outs and contests were clearly left in the practice facility.
Moreover, the Loong-Lions tried to use the three-point method as the focal point of their offense, and the score remained close until halftime. Thus, they assumed that if they followed Victor Oladipo's lead and made wise attempts from a distance after the halfway point, their first preseason win in the States was possible.
Conversely, the Loong-Lion's game plan, which did not involve much work in the paint, demonstrated that even though the game has changed and some professional offenses rely heavily on three-point baskets, the inside remains crucial.
Hence, despite the Clippers' weakness on the outside, Tyronn Lue excelled in the painted area throughout the game, limiting Guangzhou to a 37.8% field goal percentage and combining for 31 points in the second half.
Additionally, Frank Kaminsky, a former first-round pick, logged seven points and three turnovers in 27 minutes. This underwhelming stat line from Kaminsky reveals the Clippers' defensive potential.
There is an opportunity to develop, but the Clippers should be pleased, given it is preseason, and also disappointed that a major weakness was exposed so quickly. If this were performed against a balanced team like a healthy Oklahoma City Thunder, LA would end up like the Loong-Lions did last night.