Felicia Enriquez, aka Mynt J, is the host of the podcast BlackLove and Basketball – Compton Edition. She is a Clippers fan, an NBA credentialed creator representing thePeachBasket. In this article, Chaos in Clipperland: Can LA’s ‘Other Team’ Overcome Internal Struggles to Reclaim the City?, she breaks down the Clippers recent struggles and the coming Battle of LA!
Battle for LA Continues: Can the Clippers Beat the Lakers, Their Own Chaos & The Refs? Clippers Nation let’s be real things are looking shaky.
With a 32-26 record, the Clippers are sixth in the West, trailing the Lakers by five games. The defense is ranked forth, but let’s be honest—our defense has been more inconsistent than my love life. (That might’ve been too personal, but hey, facts are facts.) With 23 games left, there’s zero room for slip-ups. February has been a ride, and it’s time to break down what’s going on.
February Recap: A Month of Madness
Win three, lose three, repeat. Then scrape out a win against the Bulls. Sound familiar? This team is going through it. Scratching and surviving. Let’s dissect the last four games:
Last Four Games:
- Win vs. Bulls (122-117) (Finally, right?)
- Loss vs. Pistons (97-106)
- Loss vs. Pacers (111-129)
- Loss vs. Bucks (110-116) (Harden hit 27,000 career points—shout out, but we still lost.) Where’s Norman Powell?
Norm, we miss you. He’s sidelined with left patellar tendinopathy (a fancy way of saying jumper’s knee). Ask Shaq for some icy hot and a knee brace because, without him, the Clippers’ offense looks like it’s glitching. Powell has been a walking bucket, averaging 24.9 PPG on nearly 50% shooting. We’re seeing what happens when you overwork stars. Kawhi’s been run into the ground before, and it’s happening again.
Powell is questionable against the Lakers so hopefully; he will be available to play. Glad Kawhi and Ben were able to get some needed rest. Speaking of Ben keep up that 8/8/6 energy in limited minutes against the Bulls.
Chaos in Clipperland: What’s Up with Coaching?
1. Fourth-Quarter Collapses & Bad Late-Game Execution
- Blew a 9-point lead against the Bucks, and got torched 36-21 in the fourth. • Nearly came back vs. Detroit but collapsed when it mattered.
- Fatigue? Coaching? All of the above?
2. Defense: Where are you?
- Pacers shot 55% against us. Fifty-five?
- Bucks put up 36 in the fourth. Sigh.
- No Kawhi = No defensive identity. (How does that even work?)
- Kris Dunn ranks sixth in NBA defensive rating, fourth in steals, and leads the Clippers in deflections. Use him better.
3. Weird Rotations & Poor Bench Usage
- Amir Coffey dropped 20 on the Bulls, then disappeared. Why?
- Bogdanovic is being used like an extra in a movie, not a real contributor. • Derrick Jones Jr.? Is he in or out? Make it make sense.
- No real adjustments based on matchups—just vibes.
4. James Harden Doing Too Much
- Harden dropped 30+ twice in the last four games.
- Clippers were 5-0 when Harden scored 30+ earlier in the season, but even his 31-point effort vs. Indiana couldn’t save us.
- Harden’s great, but this isn’t Houston—he shouldn’t have to do it alone.
5. Load Management: Where’s the Balance?
- Kawhi & Powell missing games = the Clippers looking lost.
- Even when Kawhi plays, he looks out of sync.
- Ben sat for injury management, leaving a defensive hole.
- No consistent depth scoring behind Harden when Kawhi sits.
Freedom vs. Structure: The Tyronn Lue Coaching Dilemma
Tyronn Lue has a reputation as a player-friendly coach—a quality that can be both a strength and a weakness depending on how you view team structure. While he’s been known for his in-game adjustments and his willingness to empower stars, lately, his ability to make those adjustments has been lazy and questionable. The once-adaptive strategist seems stuck in autopilot, and it’s costing the Clippers games.
Lue’s approach is built on trust. He believes in letting players make their own decisions rather than forcing rigid roles upon them. Instead of boxing players into strict assignments, he encourages them to play their game. That may be ok for Kawhi, Norman, and James, but the downside? Without clear structure, this can lead to chaotic rotations, questionable shot selection, and role confusion—especially for role players who need direction to thrive.
Lack of Defined Roles: A Leadership Problem?
One of the biggest concerns with Lue’s coaching is the lack of clearly assigned roles. This can create confusion, particularly among bench players who need structure to be effective.
So, Ty Lue, what’s the plan?
- Bench production matters – Players like Amir Coffey, Derrick Jones Jr., and Bogdan Bogdanović have been solid contributors, but they need consistent roles to make a real impact.
- Stop dropping games to weaker teams – Losses to teams like Detroit shouldn’t be happening.
- Smarter rotations – Harden can’t carry the load alone; the lineup needs better balance.
- Better late-game execution – Running actual plays instead of relying on isolation ball would go a long way.
Defensive intensity is crucial – Outscoring opponents won’t work forever; if the defense doesn’t improve, it will cost them when it matters most.
The Clippers are 3-7 in February, way different from January 9-6 record. Whatever “adjustments” were supposed to happen over the All-Star break haven’t materialized. Meanwhile, Lue was in Vegas—let’s just hope he didn’t leave the game plan at the blackjack table. Jan
One more game in February—against the Lakers, in their leased property. If there was ever a time to wake up, it’s now.
The big question remains: Will Lue tighten things up when it matters most? Because in the playoffs, freedom without structure leads to chaos—and that’s the last thing the Clippers can afford in their championship chase.
The Battle for LA: What’s Really Going On?
In the Lakers’ last game, they were down by 22 against the Timberwolves—but the refs came to the rescue.
The Lakers once again showed off their greatest weapon—not LeBron, not Luka, but the whistle. They attempted 20 more free throws (46 vs. 26) and made 12 more (32 vs. 20) while the Timberwolves somehow managed to rack up 29 personal fouls to the Lakers’ barely touched 18. Coincidence? Just classic “aggressive play” at work, right? Final score Lakers win 111-102 moving them into the 4th spot in the West.
With the Lakers heating up with (and getting their usual assist from the officials right on time), the Clippers have to remind everyone who really runs LA. But historically? Let’s just say the numbers aren’t exactly on their side:
- All-Time Lakers vs. Clippers Record: 87-154 (Home: 53-70, Road: 34-84)
- 01/19/25 @ Intuit Dome – Clippers Win (116-102) (Powell 22, LeBron 25)
- 02/04/25 @ Intuit Dome – Lakers Win (122-97) (Powell 20, LeBron 26)
Kawhi Leonard: Still the King of LA
- Fifth-winningest player in NBA history (517-196, .725 win rate).
- Clippers look different—better—when he plays.
- His clutch gene is unmatched.
- Two Finals MVPs. Two franchises. No debate.
- LeBron still ducks the Kawhi matchup.
Returning to Staples Center: Feels Weird, Right?
The Clippers have a new home—the Intuit Dome—which means Staples Center (or Crypto, whatever) just doesn’t hit the same. Walking back in there? It’s like visiting your old neighborhood— but you’ve moved on.
Tickets are expensive—even the nosebleeds. Shoutout to Steve Ballmer for making sure real fans can still afford games, and can bring their families to enjoy. Meanwhile, Laker fans love to roast the Intuit Dome, but let’s be honest—What’s funnier: A few empty seats at the Clippers’ house, or Lakers fans’ empty bank accounts after paying for their games?
Laker fans did you know the Staples Center was built for the LA Kings Hockey team? Either way, let the Battle for LA continue. Clippers still have time to turn this thing around— but they better start now.
