(PHOTO CREDIT: Mark J. Terrill/AP.)
That “other team” in Los Angeles has kind of gone under the radar. No one really thought they’d do any damage this year. After all, every big player from the Lob City days has left and it’s tough to win games in the Western Conference.
Then again, this team would probably tell you that it’s tough to win against the Los Angeles Clippers. They’re tied for fourth in the West at 8-5. And they’ve won some pretty tough games against the Warriors (even without Stephen Curry), Bucks, Rockets (twice), and the Thunder.
They still have scoring punch. They’re 5th in scoring (116.6 points per) and 7th in offensive rating (112.8 points per 100 possessions). The steady Tobias Harris is giving them 20.4 points per game. Danilo Gallinari is healthy and scoring 19.0 points per. And they have one of the best offensive benches with Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams (19.1 points) and the high energy Montrezl Harrell (14.5 points). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is coming into his own very quickly.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in his last 3 games(started in all of them):
17.7 pts
4.7 rebs
3.0 asts
1.7 blks
1.0 stls
.555 fg%
.500 3pt%
37.7 mins— Dave aka illastrate (@illastrate) November 13, 2018
The Clippers aren’t the greatest defensively right now (13th with 108.4 points allowed per 100 possessions). But they do have scrappers (just don’t call them Clamp City, please; that’s not a good nickname). We know all about Patrick Beverley. Harrell, as mentioned, plays with a high motor and he’ll go after every ball. Avery Bradley can be a bulldog on defense at his best. And even though he plays limited minutes, who wants to shoot inside when Boban Marjanovic is in the middle?
The Clips aren’t a sexy team to watch. They don’t have any “stars.” But they have a blue collar squad that demands respect (in a big market, no less).
We’re not even sure if this team is going to make the NBA Playoffs later on in April. But they’re making sure that every team that plays them respects them more afterwards.
That’s a hell of a lot more than you can say about nearly all of the Clipper teams before the Lob City era.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
His podcast is at Rey-Rey Is Fundamental.