“Triple Threat” is a column by James Bao in which he covers trends in the NBA through an analytical lens.
The Los Angeles Clippers are a real problem.
With eight seconds left in the Clippers’ 5-point win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night, two made free throws from James Harden sealed the deal.
This victory extended the Clippers’ win streak to four, putting them in a tie for the league’s best record over the past 10 games (9-1).
But The Beard wasn’t welcomed with open arms.
The blockbuster trade on November 1 sent four Clippers players, alongside multiple draft picks, to the Philadelphia 76ers for Harden, P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrusev.
What seemed to be the missing piece that completed arguably the best trio in the NBA — Paul George, Kawhi Lenoard and Harden — turned into an uninspiring losing start. Of course, criticism struck.
Before his debut on November 6, the Clippers registered an offensive rating of 117.4. That number plummeted to 108.2 just five games later, with Harden averaging 32 minutes per game.
Despite early struggles, it didn’t take long for veteran NBA coach Tyronn Lue to figure out the problem. Moving Russell Westbrook, whose production had been decreasing, to the bench and giving Harden more space allowed the 10-time All-Star to showcase his offensive talents without stepping on another ball handler’s toes.
The Clippers are 31-8 since Terrance Mann replaced Westbrook in the starting lineup on November 17, ranking third overall in the Western Conference. They also hold the third-best offensive rating at 120.3 and are in the upper half of the league in defensive rating at 114.
Here are some of the Clippers’ notable statistics on both ends of the field:
- First in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (39%)
- Fifth in overall FG% (49.6%)
- Second in opponent FG% between 5-9 feet from the basket (37.5%)
- Seventh in opponent FG% between 20-24 feet from the basket (36.7%)
Needless to say, the Clippers are big on isolation plays, with four players combining for 34 All-Star appearances. At a 12.3% frequency rate, they run the most isolation plays and convert them at a league-leading 14.3 points per game on 44.6% shooting.
Harden sits on the throne of isolation plays, as 25% of his possessions are isolations, which exceeds any other player in the league. And this dominance isn’t new — it’s now his seventh consecutive season leading in this statistic. Although far less efficient than his MVP season in 2018, the skilled guard is still racking up 4.3 points per game in one-on-one situations.
Leonard and George are defensive nightmares. They’re averaging 1.7 and 1.6 steals per game, ranking fourth and fifth in the league, respectively. Their efforts on defense translate to points for the Clippers, who rank fifth in points off turnovers per game (17.5).
But the starters aren’t all that the team has.
While Westbrook delivers 11.4 points, 4.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds a night, the story also lies in role players like Norman Powell and Mason Plumlee, both in the middle of career seasons in FG%. This bench production gives the Clippers a well-rounded offensive firepower that extends beyond their stars.
So, in a league where superstars team up left and right, what makes the Clippers dangerous?
While other teams scrambled with their lineups, the Clippers had three months to adapt and gel with one another. Additionally, Lue’s positive influence and effective coaching had time to set in. Now, as more teams are expected to move pieces as the trade deadline approaches, the Clippers will hold a rock solid core as chemistry continues to rise.
Avoiding the injury bug will be crucial. But if the Clippers remain healthy, their blend of experience, talent and cohesion could make them a legitimate championship threat and a very, very fun team to watch.
“Triple Threat” runs every Tuesday.