Game 13 : Los Angeles Clippers (8-4) @ Sacramento Kings (5-7) - 10:00 PM

[ducler]

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[og15]

Defensive consistency is what I'm looking for every game now. Communication, getting back in transition, making the right reads. So far the defense has been unimpressive, and it's actually defense that's going to push this team to the next level, not so much offense.

[Max Headrom]

Defensive consistency is what I'm looking for every game now. Communication, getting back in transition, making the right reads. So far the defense has been unimpressive, and it's actually defense that's going to push this team to the next level, not so much offense.

And I like the fact that Lue knows it's a problem and brings it up often. He wants them to play with more pace and be more consistent defensively. Small detail but something I noticed after the last win, he walked off the court disgusted. Wasn't just happy with the win.

I know defensively they can get there because there's stretches of some games where the defense is locked in and smothers the opponents offense. The team has a lot to work on but it's still good to win while figuring it all out.

[NickP]

Defensive consistency is what I'm looking for every game now. Communication, getting back in transition, making the right reads. So far the defense has been unimpressive, and it's actually defense that's going to push this team to the next level, not so much offense.

I believe we're ranked 26th out of all the teams defensively. Yeah we need to turn it up on that end of the floor real quick.

[og15]

Defensive consistency is what I'm looking for every game now. Communication, getting back in transition, making the right reads. So far the defense has been unimpressive, and it's actually defense that's going to push this team to the next level, not so much offense.

And I like the fact that Lue knows it's a problem and brings it up often. He wants them to play with more pace and be more consistent defensively. Small detail but something I noticed after the last win, he walked off the court disgusted. Wasn't just happy with the win.

I know defensively they can get there because there's stretches of some games where the defense is locked in and smothers the opponents offense. The team has a lot to work on but it's still good to win while figuring it all out.

Lineup data says that the starting lineup over 135 minutes is not just good, but very good and even stifling at times, and we've seen this.

The other 5 man units don't have enough minutes on their own to make too many conclusions, but the overall team defense tells us that altogether, lineups outside of the starters simply aren't getting it done.

Right now, we're just looking for the progress. I haven't looked at the stats for transition defense, but my eye test suggests that it's been a big problem. They haven't gotten back as well as they should have or matched up and communicated as well as they should.

I also see that they've had some issues with half commiting on schemes. I know they are trying to have versatility on defense, but sometimes I see guys not fully commiting and that split second is breaking down the defense. For example, if you're switching, you gotta just switch, there's no thinking about it. You think about it and that can be a basket or you've allowed penetration into the paint area.

On one hand, it is understandable. If you want to be able to run different defensive schemes in the playoffs and be able to adjust to different opponents, you can have a longer learning curve for your defense. This is in comparison to having one scheme that you do really, really well, but not really beingable to do anything else effectively if you run into a bad matchup for that primary scheme.

[esqtvd]

Defensive consistency is what I'm looking for every game now. Communication, getting back in transition, making the right reads. So far the defense has been unimpressive, and it's actually defense that's going to push this team to the next level, not so much offense.

And I like the fact that Lue knows it's a problem and brings it up often. He wants them to play with more pace and be more consistent defensively. Small detail but something I noticed after the last win, he walked off the court disgusted. Wasn't just happy with the win.

I know defensively they can get there because there's stretches of some games where the defense is locked in and smothers the opponents offense. The team has a lot to work on but it's still good to win while figuring it all out.

Lineup data says that the starting lineup over 135 minutes is not just good, but very good and even stifling at times, and we've seen this.

The other 5 man units don't have enough minutes on their own to make too many conclusions, but the overall team defense tells us that altogether, lineups outside of the starters simply aren't getting it done.

Right now, we're just looking for the progress. I haven't looked at the stats for transition defense, but my eye test suggests that it's been a big problem. They haven't gotten back as well as they should have or matched up and communicated as well as they should.

I also see that they've had some issues with half commiting on schemes. I know they are trying to have versatility on defense, but sometimes I see guys not fully commiting and that split second is breaking down the defense. For example, if you're switching, you gotta just switch, there's no thinking about it. You think about it and that can be a basket or you've allowed penetration into the paint area.

On one hand, it is understandable. If you want to be able to run different defensive schemes in the playoffs and be able to adjust to different opponents, you can have a longer learning curve for your defense. This is in comparison to having one scheme that you do really, really well, but not really beingable to do anything else effectively if you run into a bad matchup for that primary scheme.

Just as I suspected--our worst 2-man lineups:


Mann-Zubac: minus-31 in 44 min
Mann-Jackson: minus-28 in 54 min
Kennard-Morris: minus-25 in 48 min


not promising for Mann but obviously, it's the last one that's the real worry

[TheNewEra]

Close game early

[LamarWho]

Zu getting outplayed by a guy I never heard of, he's been blowing layups around the rim like Kwame Brown.

[TheNewEra]

This team is so indecisive with shots

[TheNewEra]

Zu getting outplayed by a guy I never heard of, he's been blowing layups around the rim like Kwame Brown.

Ibaka also struggling and we keep passing up shots. The Kings are a difficult matchup for some reason

[og15]

Didn’t see much of an offensive foul by Mann there

[playaloc916]

Red hot shooting from 3

[playaloc916]

MOOKBANG!

[Max Headrom]

I'll at the point where I'm really shocked when PG misses. Geez!!

[og15]

George has really come out strong this season, great first half.

Morris sniping from the left corner too

Loved the energy by Mann, he was playing like Beverley does chasing after offensive rebounds

[Clemenza]

Great first half from PG, Kawhi, Morris, and Reggie. If Mann could somehow get a jump shot he would be a problem for the opposition. Zu had some moments but I was disappointed in seeing Holmes kill him on the offensive end. More of the same in the 2nd half and we got this one

[Max Headrom]

George has really come out strong this season, great first half.

Morris sniping from the left corner too

Loved the energy by Mann, he was playing like Beverley does chasing after offensive rebounds

You can tell he's learning from Bev with how he's been playing. He looks like a taller Bev with how he was going after the offensive rebounds and his hustle

[esqtvd]

Despite no Beverley--our best plus/minus guy--everybody is in the plus except Ibaka with the 3 quick fouls.

solid cruise control game so far--only 4 TOs at the half!!

[playaloc916]

Wow, this is like the Rockets when they were shooting a million 3's a game, a hitting them...

[playaloc916]

My man Reggie with the sick throwdown!