{"id":105292,"date":"2024-11-06T06:38:39","date_gmt":"2024-11-06T11:38:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=105292"},"modified":"2024-11-06T06:38:39","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T11:38:39","slug":"clippers-paul-george-norman-powell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/06\/clippers-paul-george-norman-powell\/","title":{"rendered":"Clippers Defensive Ace Is Making Paul George Forgettable"},"content":{"rendered":"

Due to their defensive revolution, the Los Angeles Clippers are 3-4 despite their less than ideal circumstances. Clippers lead assistant Jeff Van Gundy, who rose to fame while coaching the New York Knicks in the 1990s, has been essential<\/a> to Los Angeles ranking in the top-10 in opponent\u2019s points per game (109.1) and defensive rating (110.1). However, while their defense has been elite their offense has been mediocre.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t due to scheme, especially with Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue considered one of the best with Xs and Os. The main reason that the Clippers rank in the bottom-10 in points per game (109.0) and offensive rating (110.0) is that they\u2019re missing All-Stars Paul George<\/a> and Kawhi Leonard<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That being said, with the way 10-year NBA veteran Norman Powell<\/a> has played, there\u2019s reason to believe that the Clippers will have a strong year.<\/p>\n

Clippers Defensive Ace Is Making Paul George Forgettable<\/h2>\n

Powell has always been more of a two-way player than defensive specialist. However, he\u2019s been overshadowed by players with more star power.<\/p>\n

When he was with the Toronto Raptors, it was DeMar DeRozan<\/a> and Kyle Lowry<\/a>. When he was with the Portland Trail Blazers, it was Damian Lillard<\/a> and CJ McCollum<\/a>. With the Clippers, it\u2019s been Leonard, George, and James Harden<\/a>, the most talented group he had ever been part of.<\/p>\n

Now, fans are able to see exactly why Powell was so nonchalant after George\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n

Stormin\u2019 Norman<\/h3>\n

In the first seven games of 2024-25, Powell has averaged 24.9 points per game while converting 50.8 percent of his field goal attempts (including 45.0 percent of his three-point attempts). Minus his steal rate, these are all career-highs for the former second-round pick. Powell also already has two games scoring 30 or more points, which is more than he had all of last season.<\/p>\n

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NORMAN POWELL IS A \ud83e\udea3 pic.twitter.com\/HsC6PDjqvf<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n