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#2 Pace of Play
With the addition of Eric Bledsoe alongside Reggie Jackson, except that the Clippers will look to push the tempo this year. Lue has already stated that he wants to increase the pace of play for the team this year, and they now have a pair of guards in the starting lineup that should be able to make that happen. The team has a number of dangerous spot-up threats on their roster. Marcus Morris and Paul George do a great job of relocating to space the floor, and can be dangerous assets when it comes to making an extra pass for an open look. If the Clippers can become an efficient team in transition, they could create a new type of identity moving forward.
#1 Moving without the Ball
This is one of the most notable factors for this team moving forward. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were both known as players that did a lot of damage in isolation. Ever since Tyronn Lue took over as head coach of the Clippers, he's made it a point of emphasis to improve the ball movement with the team. It seems as if Lue isn't satisfied, as he continues to push forward the idea that the team needs to improve when it comes to ball movement and playing without the basketball. Movement away from the ball can make a team dangerous on any given night. If teams can understand how to cut and attack lapses in a defense, it can give them a great advantage on a nightly basis. Lue has continued to state that his goal for the team is to prioritize moving without the ball.
with Kawhi being out, we’ll have to use more ball movement, more player movement, more body movement. So we’re just trying to get used to doing it now.”
There's no doubt that the Clippers are going to have an uphill battle without Kawhi Leonard. That doesn't mean this team can't find a new identity and turn into a bit of a "sleeper" team in the Western Conference. Paul George is going to be heavily involved in any offense that the Clippers roll out on a nightly basis. If the team can buy into ball movement and moving without the ball, they can still become a dangerous team to deal with for any opponent.
