A 3-6 record since the All-Star break has caused concern for the Thunder and let Los Angeles (41-21) pull within 1 1/2 games of them for third place in the Western Conference. Oklahoma City needs a high-profile win considering its 3-9 record against the top four teams from each conference, with the only victory since Christmas coming against Miami.
The Clippers, meanwhile, have three such wins in just the past month.
http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400828842
Clippers leaders since Blake injury
- Chris Paul:
21.8 ppg / 4.6 rpg / 10.2 apg / 2.1 spg / 2.6 tpg / .584 TS%
J.J. Redick:
17.8 ppg / 48.0% FG / 49.5% 3PT / .637 TS%
DeAndre Jordan:
13.9 ppg / 15.1 rpg / 2.2 bpg / 67.9% FG / 47.2% FT
Jamal Crawford:
16.2 ppg / 90% FT / .536 TS% / 104 Ortg
Wesley Johnson:
7.8 ppg / 4.4 rpg / 5.1 3PA / 1.7 spg / 0.9 bpg
Clippers keys to the game:
1) Keep up the defense: Last game, Westbrook was held to .508 TS%, Durant to .522 TS%, and Ibaka to .335 TS%. It will be hard to expect that again, but the Clippers will need to keep up the defensive intensity vs OKC. It is understandable that Durant and Westbrook can get theirs to a reasonable extent, but the Clippers don't want any of the complimentary players going off on them in addition.
2) Be wary of overusing the 3PT shot: In the absense of Blake, the team doesn't have as many options of players to go to the basket, but last game vs OKC for example, Wesley Johnson and Jeff Green started the game 1/17 FG and 1/5 3PT. Doc needs to try and find a way to get Johnson more attempts around the rim, though I don't know if it is possible. For the season Johnson is attempting 7 3PA/36, and after a hot start, he's shooting just 30.2% 3PT over his last 32 games. He's a quick trigger from 3PT range and he is allergic to driving to the basket. Jeff Green is a capable slasher, and he was able to bring some of that balance in the loss to Atlanta, hitting 4 FG around the basket. The Clippers could use that ability in this game.
3) Production from the "F" spot: Jeff Green was a non factor in the last game vs OKC and in general has been non-existent in games vs good teams. He needs to make his presence known in some way. It doesn't actually need to be scoring, but defense, high level rebounding, just positive contribution. In his last three games he's had an 0-7 outting vs OKC last week, and an 0-5 outing vs Dallas on Monday, he really needs to get his head in the game. Wesley Johnson struggled with his shooting, but was critical defensively in the previous win, so he needs to do that again. Any production from Pierce would be appreciated.
