5x NBA All-Star criticizes himself for missing assists to LA Clippers sharpshooters: “I got to do a better job of getting Luke going"

The LA Clippers secured a 103-97 win in their 2022-23 NBA season opener against their noisy neighbors, the LA Lakers. John Wall believes he should have done a better job creating for teammates.

Although the game ended in favor of the Clippers, it was a neck-and-neck affair in the second half. The Lakers were close to walking away with the victory but their 3-point shooting let them down.

Perhaps the Clippers could have opened a larger lead and put the game to bed earlier. However, he took the blame for not making plays that would have helped the team in that regard.

In his post-game interview, Wall was asked if it was hard to find his flow. The 5-time All-Star highlighted that he needed to do a better job of creating for Luke Kennard.

"I think with me being in the second unit kinda let me be that guy. But tonight I just got to do a better job of getting Luke going. I mean the looks have been good for us. And we know a lot of teams don't have an answer for him because he's so much of a sharpshooter.

"I think I missed him twice. For me, that kinda irks me. When I got shooters like that my job is to let them make open shots and create it for them. I think just with our pace when we get in there it's kinda forced teams to have mismatches and don't know how to find guys in transition. We had a lot of good looks we just missed them tonight."

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Kennard is one of the most lethal 3-point shooters in the league. He opened his 2022-23 campaign with a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.

John Wall's first NBA game since 2021

The last time Wall saw action in the NBA was on April 23, 2021, with the Houston Rockets. Before that, the two-way guard missed a lot of playing time due to injuries.

Meanwhile, the reason for being sidelined throughout last season was that the Rockets wanted to focus on their young core. The veteran's request to even come off the bench was denied by the team.

During the offseason, the Clippers picked Wall as a free agent. He is a great addition and adds valuable depth to the roster.

Wall was eager to prove himself once again, and many would argue that he did exactly that. He played hard on both ends of the floor, showing his explosiveness and ability to finish at the rim. The combo guard finished the game with 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal.

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Can the Clippers compete for the title in 2022-23?

The Clippers have several returnees from injury and are still trying to find their footing. Nonetheless, on paper, they are one of the best teams in the league.

Although it might take some time for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to function at full speed, the team fancy their chances of winning it all. George believes the window is closing, and this year might be their best shot.

PG and Leonard have been together for four years but are yet to deliver a championship. Their best run came in 2021 when they reached the Western Conference finals.

Unfortunately, they lost the series 4-2 against the Phoenix Suns. Perhaps it could have ended differently if Leonard was healthy.

The Clippers will square off against the Sacramento Kings next.