The Clippers Are Still Facing The Same Problem On Offense
Going into 2015-16 NBA season, the mainstream sports media has been raving about the new players on the Los Angeles Clippers roster and their chances of winning the west. But what the media has failed to realize is that even with the revamped roster, the clippers are still facing the same problem on offense that has plagued them ever since doc rivers joined the team in 2013.
Over the past 2 seasons, the clippers half court offense has mostly been confined to a small area of the floor from the three-point line to the free throw line. When the clippers are within this area, they have 4 go to sequences. 1. Chris Paul has the ball behind the three point line he called for a screen once the screen is set he goes over the top of it to around the free throw line and shoot a typically wide open mid-range jump shot. 2. The clippers have Blake Griffin post up around the mid to low post area pass the ball to him and once the second defender he passes the ball back out for a three.
3. Blake Griffin Back down his defender by using his left shoulder and then when he’s close enough to the basket he shoots a hook shot with his left hand. 4. Chris Paul has the ball behind the three-point line and he waits to until another clipper wing player gets out to the three-point line and passes to them for a three or mid-range jump shot.
The clippers still haven’t acquired a wing player who consistently wants and has the ability to attack the basket. Lance Stephenson can be this wing player but once he sees that the rest of the wing players are mostly shooting threes I expect him to fall into that habit as well. As a result of this, the opposing defense will have an easier time defending them as a team because they can let Blake Griffin score all he wants to and defend the small area of the floor. Until the clippers acquire this piece who speed out the defense I expect them to fall short of winning the championship.
