It is no secret that the LA Clippers have found their identity in their defense this season. After losing Paul George, the front office opted to find defensive-minded free agents, and their collective impact has transformed the Clippers into a formidable defensive force.
LA's lengthy wings and quick guards have made life extremely difficult for their opposition when trying to score, limiting them to just 108.8 points per game. The Clippers have strong defenders that can play at multiple positions all over the floor, so it is no wonder they have had the versatility to deal with even some of the best offensive squads in the NBA.
The defensive prowess of the Clippers has been near the top of the league's statistical leaderboards in multiple defensive categories. That is, until Monday night, when the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated LA in a close contest, winning 134-128.
A loss of this magnitude where they gave up over 130 points unfortunately tanked the Clippers' defensive numbers. The result sent their defensive efficiency rating from the fourth-best in the league all the way to the tenth-best.
Tonight's game in Oklahoma City sent the LA Clippers defensive efficiency ranking from 4th to 10th.
— Law Murray 🕯️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) November 12, 2024
The Clippers' defensive efficiency dropped to 10th with loss
It was truly a bizarre outcome and an anomaly for a team that had been positively dominant on the defensive end for the vast majority of the beginning of the season. Through 10 games, the Clippers had given up 105 points or less a shocking eight times, with the only two exceptions being contests against the high-octane offense of the Phoenix Suns.
That is no small matter in a league that has become an offense-centric as the NBA. Many thought the Clippers would be doomed this season with Paul George gone and especially with Kawhi Leonard sidelined as well, but their defense has truly proven to be a game-changer, and has allowed them to keep pace with the impossibly stacked Western Conference.
With that said, outings like Monday night against the Thunder simply can not continue for LA. In a game where Oklahoma City was without Chet Holmgren due to injury, the Clippers outrebounded the Thunder by 18, but were unable to use that advantage to secure a victory. LA's primary problems continue to be on offense.
The Clippers shot a higher percentage than the Thunder on Monday, but they did not take care of the basketball. Oklahoma City racked up a stunning 16 steals to LA's five, and that was ultimately the difference in the game. Giving themselves more chances to score led to 91 shot attempts for OKC, and the Clippers put themselves behind the eight ball.
It sounds rudimentary, but getting more shot attempts up will naturally give you a higher chance of outscoring your opponent. Ball security is something the Clippers will have to do a better job on moving forward.