What does it take to be a true contender? Is it a well-oiled offensive machine? Or perhaps is it a style where defense and clock management are the focus? I believe it’s a mix. Take your 2014 NBA Finals champions, the San Antonio Spurs for example; 6th in offensive rating, and 4th in defensive rating, for a net rating of 8.1 (the best in the league). So what’s missing for the Clippers?
Offensively, the Clippers are one of the most exciting teams to watch in the NBA today. Aside from the exhilarating lobs and a plethora of fast break points, they actually do test out well on all the major basic and advanced stat categories; top 5 in points per game, offensive rating, assist percentage, assist to turnover ratio, assist ratio, turnover ratio, and to top it off, effective field goal, true shooting and field goal percentages. These are amazingly high and the assists related stats show it was through cohesive team play, not isolation basketball. We know all five men on the court can get up and down at any given moment and put major points on the board, so offensive output really shouldn’t be a concern.
Defensively, the Clippers got better across the board too, statistically speaking. So what does that leave? Well, it’s still defense. In this league you need a premier wing defender to even think about contending for a title. Every year, you’ll almost always see a major offensive weapon at the small forward spot for any given team that makes a deep playoff run. Whether it’s Kevin Durant, LeBron James, or developing offensive talents such as Paul George or Kawhi Leonard, all these players can provide major problems for a team without that aforementioned premier wing defender due to their length and versatility.
A Wing Defender for Clipper Nation
The Los Angeles Clippers need a consistent wing defender that not only has quick feet, but strength, and most importantly, length. While Chris Paul is a feisty, in-your-face defender at times, receiving NBA All-Defensive honors every year since 2008 (excluding the season he was injured), the 6’0”, 190 pound point guard can only present so much of a threat to a 6’8”, 250 pound small forward that’s looking to play bully-ball down low or step out and makes 3s. The best wing defender left on their roster would probably have to be Matt Barnes or Jared Dudley, but even Dudley had a down year all around this past season.
So if I’m the general manager of the Clippers, I’m in a tough spot. A “LeBron-Stopper”, if you will, is a must in this league, and when you have three big money-eating contracts on your cap in Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan (combined collect close to $50 million next season), that’s going to be very hard do through free agency or without giving up one of those three. So that leaves the draft, but when you’re stuck in the no-man’s-land of not being a true title favorite but still getting into the playoffs yearly, it’s hard to get a good pick. Either way, I’m curious to see what Dave Wohl will do, and I wish him luck, because he’ll need it.
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