Losing Ivica Zubac was thought to hurt the LA Clippers’ offense, but Brook Lopez has done a remarkable job bridging that gap. Zubac has been on the injury report for the last two games, and in the second, Lopez managed to score 30+ for the first time since November 24, 2023. However, Zubac’s absence has torn apart the Clippers’ rebounding.
In fact, versus the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers, the Clippers grabbed 66 rebounds, 10 offensive and 56 defensive. The combined total (two-game span) is the second-worst in the NBA; the offensive total is the worst, and the defensive total is 26th.
Who had the team high in rebounding throughout both contests? Kawhi Leonard, with eight in each. This is embarrassing, as the player closer to a small forward has done more cleaning on the glass than every center.
Why has this recurred for two games in a row? The Clippers are not boxing out; their inexcusable, lousy body language with the ball live made it easy for the Rockets and Trail Blazers to steer without friction.
The LA Clippers do not have anyone to immediately call for help
Kawhi Leonard might just have to be the LA Clippers’ leading rebounder moving forward. Brook Lopez and Yanic Konan Niederhauser have accumulated measly numbers in the category their height should have them equipped to specialize in, and the rookie’s reckless fouling has caused troubles that were not expected.
Additionally, John Collins appears to be unfamiliar with boxing out. He does not contest the ball enough; it is no wonder that he has not been able to increase his rebounding averages to over five per game this season.
Moreover, no immediate change will come about other than Leonard trying even harder to rush to the paint and use his physical force to obtain the basketball. His plate is already full, like a Christmas meal, with 69 points scored on the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers.
The cherry on top is that LA faces Jalen Duren tonight at home. For the record, he has the fifth-best rebounds per game average in the league.
February 5th is a deadline for trades, but it should also be the last date for the Clippers’ rebounding struggles. Brook Lopez must be gone by then, and Niederhauser must have progressed through development in interior positioning.
That said, in place of Lopez, a traditional center would be a better idea to acquire. Then, Ivica Zubac would be joined by someone else who is keen enough to diminish a team flaw.