Los Angeles Clippers: Tough night

Chris Paul posted his 13th straight double-double to start off this season

The Los Angeles Clippers faced one of the more brutal back-to-backs a team can face in the NBA playing the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder, both on the road. Last night, the Clippers lost to the Thunder 105-91 to gain a split in the two games after defeating the Timberwolves Wednesday night. The game could be seen in two ways – one, the Clippers just had tired legs after their big win in Minnesota and that is why there were a parade of layups and trips to the free throw line by the Thunder. The other suggests that the Clippers still have some way to go on the defensive end to be seriously considered as a title contender. Regardless, this question will not be answered for awhile, so lets take a look at what happened.

This game for the Clippers was a slow methodical, 14-point loss where they never seemed to make the necessary run to overtake the Thunder (tired legs), as Oklahoma City maintained no less than a 6-point cushion throughout the second half. Once again Chris Paul was masterful, posting 17 points and 12 assists, extending his NBA record of most assist/points double-doubles to start a season at 13. He showed tremendous fight and spirit throughout the third and fourth quarter as he tried to will his team back.

Right next to CP3?s outstanding game was Blake Griffin, who played marvellously as well , posting 27 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. If you’ve been following the blog or Blake’s season, you will know that his passing is very underrated and once again he showed his passing chops, setting DeAndre up for several nice hoops. He also brought the A+ Blake midrange shooting game last night in the third quarter when he posted 15 points on 7-10 shooting, hitting 3 straight midrange jumpers, including a ridiculous pivot fadeaway from the middle of the key. He has been much more decisive in shooting his jumpers instead of holding the ball and pondering what to do before shooting, and I think shooting in rhythm has helped get him into a groove. (Now if we could just get him to extend his arm when he shot everything would be good.)

I am sorry if it sounds like the Clippers should have won at this point of the article, but you need the role players to step up as well and that just wasn’t the case last night. While the stars earned their paycheck on the second night of a back to back, everyone else seemed to sleep walk through the game. Maybe they were missing Matt Barnes’ spark off the bench, who is out for 2 weeks after surgery to repair a torn retina in his eye, but regardless, there is no excuse for the role players to play how they did. (Jamal Crawford notwithstanding, he did get his points, if inefficiently.)

Notes

Last note on CP3, he had sweet hesitation drive off a pick and roll where he got Steven Adams all tied up at the free throw line. He proceeded to hit Jamal in the corner for a three, but the best part was Paul was running back on defense while pumping his fist before the shot went in.
It must suck for a bench player to have to guard Kevin Durant, especially when that bench player is a rookie. Reggie Bullock drew that assignment tonight with Barnesy out and promptly got torched. Pretty tough to watch.
The defense was simply awful, constantly allowing penetration by KD, Russell Westbrook, and Reggie Jackson that resulted in either layups or free throws. This team isn’t going far if they continue to play defense like the first 13 games.
They also need to fix the Ryan Hollins and Byron Mullens back up big situation. And no, Lamar Odom is not the answer. Or Antawn Jamison.
This is the worst I have seen the Clippers play offensively this year, and that is a good sign because they are going to live and die with their offense this season. They have already netted wins against the Thunder, Warriors, Grizzlies, and Timberwolves (2x) so one game where their worst qualities are shown on the second night of a back to back is by no means the end of the world.
Last note, DeAndre Jordan has a hilarious habit of only giving back-handed high fives. No matter what the other person is doing, regular high five, a pound, or a back-handed high five, he only gives the back-hander. Maybe he’s afraid of germs, but regardless, it’s pretty funny to always see him do it.

Here’s a compilation of Jamal Crawford getting the four-point play, just because it’s so awesome: