Few fans believed the Los Angeles Clippers would put up a fight in a stacked Western Conference after losing Kawhi Leonard to injury. Their status as a championship contender in this decade is in such a discouraging state that some fans may feel pissed off at how their fortunes have turned out.
While the bookies don’t trust the Clippers to win many basketball games, the current roster is doing all it can to win as many games as possible. Norman Powell has taken on the unlikely role of the team’s primary scorer alongside James Harden to help the team win half of its first eight games in the regular season.
However, Derrick Jones Jr. believes that the team’s surprising competitiveness in the Western Conference has more to do with stifling their opponents’ ability to put the ball in the ring.
Derrick Jones Jr. believes the Clippers’ defensive strength helps them compete in the West
The Clips managed to take down the Philadelphia 76ers, 98-110. The thing that makes this win more enjoyable for long-time fans is how they stopped Paul George from having a triumphant return to the City of Angels.
Jones believes that the Clippers’ defensive plans were able to stop George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey from putting up points on the scoreboard.
Per Jonas Paneiro of Athlon Sports:
“Just relying on our defense, trusting our technique that we’ve been working on. It’s always been about being in the right spot, having each other’s back,” the former Slam Dunk Contest champion said after the game.
The former Slam Dunk Contest winner put up a strong performance in front of the Intuit Dome crowd, putting up 14 points, four rebounds, and two assists in the win. Powell led the team in scoring with 26, with the Beard adding 18 points and six dimes.
More impressively, Tyronn Lue has put up a strong defensive unit for his squad. While the season is still long, the Clippers are ranked fifth in defensive rating. While their defensive rebounding and blocks aren’t the best, their are ranked tenth in steals.
Of course, the fans know that the Clips couldn’t win every game they play. However, the fact that the their team isn’t just letting opponents get a win every game.
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