The Clippers should not be this good without Kawhi. Update: Kawhi to return Jan 4th vs the Hawks

[HardenGoat]

It's crazy considering how inefficient Harden has been too.

This is very accurate. He’s been putrid with offensive efficiency and turnovers. But teams are still dumb enough to double and trap him constantly, so it’s letting him makeup for these issues with his playmaking.

This is by design. If one NBA coach does this it might be stupid, but all elite coaches are doing it and it makes you wonder why?

They see taking Harden's game away kills the clippers since it's a one man offense. The guy is 35 yo, if this strategy of sending armies to wear him down worked 5 years ago it sure will work today right?

Guess what, it kinda worked, but what's different now is they have a well coached JVG defense with scrappy defenders all buying in to that system to show for it. This is the most fun clippers I've seen, lob city included.

This is true. They are trying to get the ball out of his hands to stop him from setting up the mismatch. The difference here is there’s two elite coaches that are working with him and have the secondary plays already developed when this happens. JVG also has been brilliant with the defensive schemes. There’s a big difference between Lue and Doc here working with him.

[OfficialRef]

I swear every year they stack their team up with the best talent/deepest roster. If their stars weren't so disappointing they would have gone so far.

[OGSactownballer]

It’s all great with two major minute eaters out of the lineup at the primary positions of SF and SG where guys can showcase.

But keep in mind that all those guys that are hustling are really hustling to get a real long term contract. Once those minutes to “prove” themselves dry up? The brotherly love likely will as well.

[OGSactownballer]

Really in the end it’s bad coaching against them.

Harden is no longer in any way a guy who demands a double team. An elite defender against him, yes. He is still able to buy calls from the refs and you have to respect the three ball and his creation ability.

But if guys would simply stay home on their man and make that guy WORK and get tired? The problem would solve itself.

Zubac and Bamba are walking foul machines and always have been. Start your offense from the low post if you have a post scorer that can pass. Run double screens to get your shooters actually open. Leanne to the grabs and holds and sell it to the refs so they have to back off the physicality. Utilize your bench to take that physicality to them and show that you aren’t cowed.

It’s all basic old fashioned coaching.

[ejftw]

It’s all great with two major minute eaters out of the lineup at the primary positions of SF and SG where guys can showcase.

But keep in mind that all those guys that are hustling are really hustling to get a real long term contract. Once those minutes to “prove” themselves dry up? The brotherly love likely will as well.

Norman Powell is under contract for another year.
Jones has two more.
Dunn has two more.
Porter has a PO.
Mann has three more.
Zu has three more.

Coffey is the only one, besides Jordan, that's expiring. Bamba as well but he's less of a priority imo.

To boot, contracts are very rarely paid on defensive play, where the team is excelling.

Not a take I agree with, as calling Zu a walking foul, unless you mean he never gets calls.

[GSP]

Jvg was one of the best coaching hires of the summer. The way Lac is defending he has a huge imprint no doubt

[NBA4Lyfe]

This is insane lol… and yr. 16 washed and still got all the gravity in the world

[og15]

Really in the end it’s bad coaching against them.

Harden is no longer in any way a guy who demands a double team. An elite defender against him, yes. He is still able to buy calls from the refs and you have to respect the three ball and his creation ability.

But if guys would simply stay home on their man and make that guy WORK and get tired? The problem would solve itself.

Zubac and Bamba are walking foul machines and always have been. Start your offense from the low post if you have a post scorer that can pass. Run double screens to get your shooters actually open. Leanne to the grabs and holds and sell it to the refs so they have to back off the physicality. Utilize your bench to take that physicality to them and show that you aren’t cowed.

It’s all basic old fashioned coaching.

Zubac is at 2.6 fouls/36, lol

He was at 3.6 fouls/36 the previous two seasons.

Bamba has a career 4.4 fouls/36, he's the foul machine, but Zubac in the 3's per 36 is right in line with other C's.

[Curmudgeon]

First time I've seen them this year-- but the Clippers are good? Really? I guess "good" is a relative term; it looks like they will keep the loss under 30 to the Celtics.

I spoke too soon.

[NBA4Lyfe]

Harden is numero "UNO" in both off-ball and on-ball gravity. Which is a short way of saying the clippers might be winless without harden lol, and harden is shooting his worst percentages to start a season.. crazy high floor raising ability by james harden in yr. 16

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[dhsilv2]

It's crazy considering how inefficient Harden has been too.

This is very accurate. He’s been putrid with offensive efficiency and turnovers. But teams are still dumb enough to double and trap him constantly, so it’s letting him makeup for these issues with his playmaking.

Harden's really become a versatile guy. Nearly 9 assists despite more or less getting him to shoot is the dream right now. And for good measure over 7 boards a game which is no small part of their defense. Throw in 1.5 steals and nearly a block a game.

[dhsilv2]

everything in context

they are doing well without kawhi in a parity year that is upside down

even the lakers look relatively solid

that the clips are also without pg makes this a pretty good story

but everything in context

Is this a parity year? Cleveland is 17-1. Meanwhile there are 5 teams with 4 or less wins. Boston similarly is running away at 15-4 and OKC at 13-4 despite injuries is potentially in a spot to pull away too.

[Johnny Bball]

Did you expect them to compete to this level without Kawhi?

Yes.

Meh, they are slightly ahead of where i thought they would be. Variance/schedule.

[timdunkit]

Not a single player is under 24; aside from Batum/Harden, the oldest player is 31. The supporting cast is solid and veteran-laden, mostly in its prime. Powell has stepped up in a big way. Also, major credits to Ty Lue for another amazing coaching job!

[Jabroni Lames]

Harden is numero "UNO" in both off-ball and on-ball gravity. Which is a short way of saying the clippers might be winless without harden lol, and harden is shooting his worst percentages to start a season.. crazy high floor raising ability by james harden in yr. 16

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No. This is a short way of saying that opposition defenses are selling out and game-planning to stop only 1 guy, because the Clippers only have 1 guy who is they consider a threat. And to their credit, Ty Lue and the Clippers coaching staff have found a way to turn that aggressiveness against their opposition to put other players in a position to score.

Having said all that... Clippers have a crappy offense. 23rd ranked ORTG. They are winning almost exclusively with defense (#6 DRTG).

Getting Harden to play enough defense without being a super weak link is the real magic here.

[OkcSinceSGA]

Did you expect them to compete to this level without Kawhi?

Yes.

Meh, they are slightly ahead of where i thought they would be. Variance/schedule.

https://powerrankingsguru.com/nba/strength-of-schedule.php

3rd most difficult schedule, I certainly don't expect them to have this record. I did preseason, but that's because I was dumb enough to believe Kawhi may suit up the first couple of games. I would not have said they would be multiple games over .500 with 0 Kawhi games and tough opponents to start the year.

[NBA4Lyfe]

Harden is numero "UNO" in both off-ball and on-ball gravity. Which is a short way of saying the clippers might be winless without harden lol, and harden is shooting his worst percentages to start a season.. crazy high floor raising ability by james harden in yr. 16

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No. This is a short way of saying that opposition defenses are selling out and game-planning to stop only 1 guy, because the Clippers only have 1 guy who is they consider a threat. And to their credit, Ty Lue and the Clippers coaching staff have found a way to turn that aggressiveness against their opposition to put other players in a position to score.

Having said all that... Clippers have a crappy offense. 23rd ranked ORTG. They are winning almost exclusively with defense (#6 DRTG).

Getting Harden to play enough defense without being a super weak link is the real magic here.

then why is harden leading the clippers by a mile in WAR, and not zubacs or powell.. just more coping from the "steve nash and wade are better than harden alltime" pundits haha

harden is dominating REAL advanced metrics in yr 16.. im curious what wades and steve nashs numbers looked like in yr 16 of their careers

and why on earth has ben taylor not caught strays from the same casuals that regurgitate his every word for that clownish take of "james harden is not a portable player" lol, the same harden that started from the bench and won 6th man of the year, to then making all-nba his first year as a starter, to then leading the nba in scoring and winning mvp, to then being a top 5 assist guy lol. Harden is a rare offensive player in nba history, and its unfornate the nba media and its casual fanbase is either too low iq or just ignorant of the history of the basketball to see it

its hilarous watching the "know it all podcasters" have to avoid talking about how wrong they were with the clippers haha. Now its the defense for why the clippers are winning.. BUT THE 2 BEST 2-way players in the league in kawhi and pg13 are pretty much off the team. So where is bill simmons and his ringer guys now haha.. these are the same cowards that push the hot take points all summer and then run and hide when they are proven wrong smh. At least make a podcast to gloat about your celtics beating the clippers last night. Before the season the media was trashing hardens value.. but fast forward today harden is amongst the top 10 players according to bballindex lol

Also bbindex is bascially saying harden to this point should be an all-star this year just like last year, when the nba chose "podcast p" in place of harden haha, this is why i LOVE bballindex... they dont push agendas and give you the numbers no filter. Unlike bpm changing their entire formula because westbrook was too dominant in that metric 2017 to be believable. Funny how you can make the same case with bpm 2.0 being broken because jokic assist numbers as a center is crashing their metric the same way bpm 1.0 overrated russell westbrooks rebounding. But i doubt those who changed the formula for the original bpm will change bpm 2.0

[og15]

Harden is numero "UNO" in both off-ball and on-ball gravity. Which is a short way of saying the clippers might be winless without harden lol, and harden is shooting his worst percentages to start a season.. crazy high floor raising ability by james harden in yr. 16

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Harden is important for the teams ability to succeed, but this isn't a case of Harden carrying the Clippers as some lone guy.

The Clippers put together a bunch of solid young vets who can defend and added multiple guys who can do some ball handling and complimentary playmaking.

The Clippers Ortg with Harden: 112.0
Clippers Ortg without Harden: 108.6

Harden has done his best at his age, but this isn't any sort of carry situation. Clippers have a below average offense, they have not too far off production from the no Harden units. The teams main calling card is defense.

Before last night, they held 5 straight opponents under 105 ppg (4 under 100) with an average of 96.8 ppg and 43/27 shooting. They are 6th in Drtg. They've scored 120+ twice all season. No opponent has scored over 105 in a win so far.

[Edrees]

This happens every year. Kawhi s out and clippers do fine, then Kawhi is in and they still don't take the next step. Maybe he's not as good as people think he is, doesn't make his teammates better. Clippers teamates seem to play their best when he's out of the lineup.

I still think they end up as the 7th or 8th seed.

[NBA4Lyfe]

Harden is numero "UNO" in both off-ball and on-ball gravity. Which is a short way of saying the clippers might be winless without harden lol, and harden is shooting his worst percentages to start a season.. crazy high floor raising ability by james harden in yr. 16

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Harden is important for the teams ability to succeed, but this isn't a case of Harden carrying the Clippers as some lone guy.

The Clippers put together a bunch of solid young vets who can defend and added multiple guys who can do some ball handling and complimentary playmaking.

The Clippers Ortg with Harden: 112.0
Clippers Ortg without Harden: 108.6

Harden has done his best at his age, but this isn't any sort of carry situation. Clippers have a below average offense, they have not too far off production from the no Harden units. The teams main calling card is defense.

Before last night, they held 5 straight opponents under 105 ppg (4 under 100) with an average of 96.8 ppg and 43/27 shooting. They are 6th in Drtg. They've scored 120+ twice all season. No opponent has scored over 105 in a win so far.

ok but remmeber when the clippers went on that run, and ryen russilo was praising norman powell.. ( as he should have) but 4 outta the past 5 games powell was ghost and the clippers didnt miss a beat, in fact their defense looked even more scary without powell out there. So are you saying kris dunn, or kpj would be slicing and dicing defenses with his passing like harden has been doing this szn. If fact without harden.. WHO WOULD BE RUNNING THE CLIPPERS OFFENSE".. kpj, dunn, powell, bones lol. THIS IS WHY I LOVVVVEEE BBALLINDEX. Because regardless of how they get their formula it 95% of the time, matches the eye-test. Prior to bballindex, i followed 538 raptor lol and of course espn got rid of it because it was attracting too much attention during the 2023 embiid vs jokics mvp battle that year.

These podcasters are counting on casuals to listen to them and take their words as truth, but when that person can go look up the best players for themselves it kinda makes their talking points fall on def ears. ESPN/FS1 regardless of what they tell you need for steph to be better than harden. This is why the nba media voters in my opinion colluded to make sure harden didnt win mvp in 2017 because the prior year in 2016 they voted to keep him off all-nba, so if they did the right thing and voted harden for mvp then it would be a bad look on the game of basketball 25 years from now

The nba voters went againist their criteria to avoid giving the nba to harden and in the process screwed up the mvp award and the criteria going forward, which is why last szn you had luka and the mavs toiling in the play-in/8th seed for 90% of the szn crying about "luka was robbed" lol. Now any and everyone believes they should win mvp smh, jokic winning over embiid as a 6th seed because he was the best player, but according to 538 raptor and epm harden was clearly the best player in 2019 so by the logic if applying the same criteria to the 2022 mvp battle between jokic and embiid then giannis being a higher seed shouldnt matter when harden was THE BEST PLAYER