Internal Pressure on the Clippers in the 2nd half

Los Angeles Clippers host the Los Angeles Lakers in an NBA regular season game at Crypto.com Arena. Both teams are looking for a playoff berth.
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Now that All-Star weekend has come and gone, the 2nd half of the NBA season is upon us. Teams look to focus on the stretch run heading into the playoffs. The Los Angeles Clippers are currently sitting 3rd in the Western Conference standings with a 36-17 record. They are healthy, and ready to see what this formidable team can do when healthy. 

LA picked up a character defining win up North on Valentines day over the Golden State Warriors 130-125. They did it, on National TV no less, by using a huge 4th quarter to outscore the Warriors 44-28. They were able to put up that type of showing in the 4th without head coach Ty Lue on the sideline. He was absent for most of the quarter due to being ejected for picking up his 2nd tech with 10:18 left. 

Lue has never been ejected as a head coach in his 10-year coaching career. Lue was ultimately fined $35,000 for the criticism of the officiating and for questioning the integrity of game officials outside of the team’s locker room after their win. It was his first ejection since March 2005, when he was playing for the Atlanta Hawks. Back then he punched Dallas Mavericks forward Eduardo Najera to earn a one-game suspension.

What was most impressive about that win was the ability to get it done without superstar Kawhi Leonard in the lineup. Leonard was out due to a left adductor strain. This was the first time since Dec 29 against Memphis he has been out. It was only the 5th game Leonard has missed this season which all signs point to all positives thus far for this organization. 

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Kawhi Leonard is the biggest factor come Playoffs

According to TNT’s Kenny Smith, “The West is wide open, but the Clippers still, I think, even surpassed Denver,”. Kenny proclaimed during his appearance on the latest ‘The Stephen A. Smith Show.’  

In the past he has hesitated to see the team as a favorite as “…they’ve never been able to stay healthy.” However, he now believes this has changed, pointing to Leonard’s health as a key example.

“He is the most unique player,” Kenny said. “It’s funny, because when he gets hurt and comes back, it’s like he’s never been hurt. Most guys take some time to get back, but he kind of just jumps right back in it. He is the difference maker. He’s still in his prime in terms of being a dominant player, so he separates everything.”

Leonard just played in his sixth All-Star game this past weekend alongside teammate and nine time All-Star Paul George. George is averaging 22.5 ppg in 50 games so far. He helped put this team on his back in that win over Golden State before the break. In that game he had 24 pts and became LA’s all-time leader in 3-ptr’s made during  a 121-100 loss to Minnesota. 

Great vibe,” George said after the win. “You want to be on vacation and feeling good about it. It’s definitely momentum going into the second half of the season. So it’s great, we know we’ve got our work cut out for the second half, but I thought we ended the first half on a good note.”

Currently, LA is top’s in the league at 39.5% from 3-pt. They have been amongst the best in offensive rating since Dec 1st and are 3rd at 119.7/gm. 

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Harden’s Impact

The addition of future Hall-of-Famer James Harden five games into the season is a huge reason for that. The reigning assist leader brought those same intangibles to this team. And it has lifted this team [at least] offensively into championship tier according to many.

His scoring is down, but that’s not why they traded for him. Coach Ty Lue has wanted the offense to run him from Day 1, “He [Harden] makes everybody happy”. Lue said about a month ago before the prepared to play Minnesota. His ability to create scoring opportunities for guys like Ivica Zubac and Mason Plumlee or catch and shoot corner 3’s for Norman Powell has helped unlock this team offensively.

With 29 games remaining in the regular season, LA is looking forward to staying in the top four in the conference with the West being so tough. They pick their season back up tomorrow night against the 2nd seeded Thunder in Oklahoma. The Thunder are only a half game behind for that spot. 

Former NBA champion and ESPN’s NBA Today analyst Kendrick Perkins said this Clippers team “Is not lacking anything”. Perk has picked them to come out of the West.

Westbrook’s Contribution

They have a future first ballot Hall-of-Famer coming off the bench in Russell Westbrook. Westbrook has already has a MVP on his resume, along with being part of the NBA’s all 75th anniversary team. His his main focus is competing for a championship. He gave all indications of that by going to coach Ty Lue and the coaching staff by telling them he thought it might be better for him to come off the bench. He also gave up ball handling and decision making primarily to Harden.  

He’s on pace for career lows in points (11.4) and assists (4.6). But if you ask coach Lue, he will tell you that, “He[Russ] brings so much more to this team than scoring.” This dates back to last season when LA was eliminated by Phoenix in the playoffs in five games.

Expectations from within

There might not be a ton of pressure on LA outside of this organization and their enthused owner Steve Ballmer. But if they come up short again there might be some changes heading into $2B arena in Inglewood next season. 

Leonard, is locked up for the next 3 years after resigning to stay in LA back in early January. But there is no guarantee with any of the other big names moving forward. 

Kawhi’s No. 1 goal is to win, and win as a Clipper, and be a Clipper,” president of basketball operations Lawrewnce Frank said during a media session. “I think it’s a great reflection on the franchise, that in 2019 we didn’t know each other. Now, not only does he want to be here and finish his career here, but he’s a partner, and to help us and understand the big picture that it is about winning and about contending.” 

Zu, Powell, and Terrance Mann are locked up for next season, but those names alongside Leonard won’t be anyone’s favorites.

George, who is up for an extension, has a player option heading into next season but has yet to be offered a new deal. Westbrook signed a 2 yr $8M deal to come back to LA this season, but also has an option for next season. Harden is not extension eligible, and he will be a free agent at the end of the season. Unlike Leonard and George, Harden’s situation cannot be addressed by the front office until this off-season.

So, there is in fact a lot to address once the season comes to a conclusion. But what this team does in the next few months will determine how they look when they break in that new arena in October.     

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