The Los Angeles Clippers are eyeing a championship run this season, after a first-round exit last year against the Denver Nuggets in Game 7. As such, they’ve added several key pieces, including shooting guard Bradley Beal, power forward John Collins, center Brook Lopez, and point guard Chris Paul, with the hopes of elevating their team to the next level
However, so far in this season, the performance from the additions has been underwhelming. If the Clippers continue to play as they have, they could miss the playoffs.
Bradley Beal first debuted for the Clippers in the season opener against the Utah Jazz, where he started with a minutes restriction. In just 20 minutes, he scored five points, one rebound, and one steal in a loss. The underwhelming performance he showed in his first game continued throughout the season.
He averaged just eight points a game alongside two assists before being ruled out for the rest of the season due to a fractured left hip — leaving him without an opportunity to reverse the narrative
Chris Paul has made his return to Los Angeles. The all star was once considered one of the greatest point guards in the league, and led the Clippers to many victories around the mid 2010s.
This time around, he has been forced into a backseat position, only given around 12-13 minutes a game. Even in these limited minutes, he has struggled to prove himself capable. His performance reflects the lack of consistency Los Angeles faces as a whole, where he only averages 2.3 points a game, 3.6 assists, and 1.8 rebounds. With championship hopes this season, Paul will have to tap into his reserve tank, alongside his former teammate, James Harden, and superstar Kawhi Leonard.
John Collins has found more luck than the other additions. Initially coming off the bench , he quickly found his rhythm and proved himself capable. By mid-November, he was in the starting lineup. On his own, he has been averaging 12 points a game alongside five rebounds. But as a power forward next to Ivica Zubac, he has been making quick rim runs and pick-and-roll finishes. If the Clippers want to make a championship run this season, they best believe that Collins is essential.
Finally, Brook Lopez has had it rough this season. Limited to only 15 minutes a game, his numbers, 6.8 points a game, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists, indicate his struggles to fit into the current lineup. Theoretically the perfect backup to Zubac, the bet on the aging center so far has missed.. Once one of the best two-way centers in the league, especially during his years on the Milwaukee Bucks, Lopez has lost a step or two. Lopez’s current play only adds to the already messy defense of Los Angeles. So far, signing Lopez has been a major mistake, but it is not too late to turn that around.
The early returns from these summer acquisitions have so far been a let-down. Although difficult, Los Angeles still has a chance to turn their performance around. With Beal completely out of the picture for the season, Paul, Lopez, and Collins muse step it up.
The Clippers must look more favorably at lineups that defend and rebound, prioritizing combinations like Collins and Zubac in the frontcourts. If Lopez’s numbers continue to drop, his role should be readjusted into compositions that win the glass. A weak defense has proved to be a significant reason for a Clippers’ collapse, so the likes of rebounding and rim-protection must be given priority. Focusing on a defense first game plan might just help Los Angeles steer away from the danger zone and back towards a playoff trajectory.