Since the day the regular season began, the LA Clippers have had the most consistent and detailed defensive scheme in the NBA. In the offseason, they mastered the fundamentals of defensive slides, switching over/under screens, and help-side defense and have made it through the 82-game threshold. This is, in fact, the best the Clippers' defense has ever been.
Conversely, before the All-Star break, LA had a minor but noticeable hole. This weakness ultimately generated clean looks in the opposite direction, which let upcoming opponents know of a loophole to defeat the Clippers.
Furthermore, the Clippers struggled to defend three-pointers, whether caught in transition or the half-court set. This was critical, as extra ball movement was enough to defeat what Jeff Van Gundy had worked all summer on.
Hence, the Clippers' record before the break was 31-23, and they would allow 38.0 three-point shots per game on a 35.0% clip. The percentage was in the top 10, which is great, but the attempts were in the league's bottom half.
Van Gundy and his squad took the week off, discovered the void, and immediately corrected gaps to make what the Clippers were already elite at even better.
The LA Clippers' multi-level defense emphasizes focus on sharp contests from a distance
Of course, the rise to greatness from superstars James Harden and Kawhi Leonard has redefined the LA Clippers championship probability, but the NBA community must credit Jeff Van Gundy for his fixes in the week players spent off the court to maximize rest.
After the All-Star break, there was a legitimate sense of urgency to properly close out, fight through defenders, and, most importantly, communicate on the floor. This is how elite defenses move, and the Clippers have been a live example of that all season.
Moreover, in the last 26 games, the Clippers have made it into the top eight in terms of three-point attempts. They also improved their efficiencies, which essentially perfected Van Gundy's ideology.
Additionally, playing Kris Dunn for more action aided the perimeter defense, as he is one not to allow an uncontested shot to be fired within his vicinity. Dunn went from playing 22.8 minutes to 26.2 before and after the All-Star weekend. At the same time, his averages in steals surged.
That said, the Clippers have had the best story in the league to cap the season, but the coaching staff made meticulous fixes to fit all the pieces to the puzzle.