They were asleep for long. But maybe this is the moment for the Los Angeles Clippers to put together a string of wins right before the postseason. They decimated the Atlanta Hawks tonight, recording their second-straight win while on their East road trip. The LA team is slowly beginning to find its gears. Yet there’s still so much more for the Clippers to explore and discover about their true identity as a team.
Defensively they’ve always been good. Playing with togetherness, they still rank as the fourth-best defense in the NBA. And James Harden, who may be regarded as a weak link on that end has been a dedicated contributor. He’s posting his best defensive rating in nine years. No wonder he is “overly proud” of the Clippers defense.
Tonight, the team played with impeccable chemistry, limiting the Hawks to just 98 points. Offensively, with The Beard running the show, the Clippers have been sublime. But he still thinks they are yet to hit their pinnacle. There’s just one thing that’s holding them back according to Harden.
Nov 25, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) reacts after his forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) is called for a technical foul against the Boston Celtics in the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
“Offensively we’re still improving and we’re still not fully healthy. So once we get guys fully healthy we can we can turn the corner and be something special. So for us, I think it’s just focusing on every single game and winning the games and not looking ahead. Taking it you know game by game,” Harden commented after the win.
After a slow start, Kawhi Leonard is beginning to find his touch. Over his last seven games, the Klaw has scored 20+ six times. His consistency has allowed for greater space for Harden. Now add the injured Norman Powell to this attack and the Clippers have a solid unit with great spacing.
And just in case their shooting isn’t delivering, Ivica Zubac has proven time and again that he can be a monstrous interior scorer. But his role goes beyond that.
How a common language can change everything
After losing Paul George, the Clippers decided to make minimal additions to their lineup to strengthen mainly their defense. The likes of Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn have had a vast impact. But at the deadline, they needed another high-octane player. So they traded for Bogdan Bogdanovic.
The former Hawks sharpshooter has only played in 15 games. Likewise, adjusting to a brand-new system and integrating himself into his role has been hard. “It takes time and a lot of work,” the Serbian National captain added. But having Zubac has helped him tremendously.
The Croatian center speaks the same language as Bogdanovic. So although he is new to the team, playing beside the center has fast-tracked his integration process. “Zu actually helps me a lot cause we speak same same language and we understand each other and nobody understands on the floor so it makes the game way easier for me,” he added.
Communicating in their own language during sets makes it harder for other teams to pick up on the plays. Additionally, for Bogdanovic, having a friend on the same team makes the process a lot easier as he admits. If you watched the Olympics, his brilliant display with Serbia proves what he can do for the Clippers.
The high-pressure moments don’t faze him. That makes him a vital player to have during a postseason run where the Clippers are aiming for success. With a fully equipt unit, this is a team not to be taken lightly. They have the personnel and depth to be a consistent team. And Bogdanovic is likely to be a major contributor for them in the future.
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