The LA Clippers are looking like one of the most dangerous teams in the NBA. After struggling to make adjustments following the James Harden trade, Head Coach Tyronn Lue has started to figure things out.
After starting the season with a 3-7 record, the Clippers have now won 12 of their last 15 games and have climbed all the way up to sixth in the Western Conference standings. The vision the team had in trading for Harden is starting to become a bit clearer.
According to the numbers, there is one particular four-man lineup LA has been running that has seen a substantial amount of success recently. That lineup features Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Terance Mann and Ivica Zubac.
The Clippers have had success when starting Kawhi, PG, Mann and Zubac
When Leonard, George, Mann and Zubac are all in the starting lineup, the Clippers have a 21-6 record between this season and last, while also outscoring the opposition by 220 points across the 27 games where that starting lineup was utilized.
Before and after adding Harden to the mix, this has been LA's most effective group of players. Several different roles can be filled with the fifth spot, but having those four alongside each other has clearly led to winning basketball.
It makes sense that this lineup has worked. The creation abilities of George and Leonard speak for themselves, not to mention their top-level defense. With Zubac protecting the rim and Mann creating opportunities for his teammates, all the pieces are in place for an effective two-way attack.
The Clippers' losing streak ended when Mann returned to the starting lineup. The more LA can get these four guys on the floor to start the game together, the better chance they will have of making a real push for a championship.