The LA Clippers:

Acknowledging Current & Future Success

By: Michael A. Chase Jr.

6/8/2019

       All the basketball talk in Los Angeles was supposed to revolve around what the Los Angeles Lakers would do this NBA season, thanks to the addition of LeBron James. Though it was the other team that resides in L.A. that deserved attention from basketball fans and pundits. The Los Angeles Clippers overachieved in the eyes of many this year. Finishing with a 48-34 record and owning the 8th spot in the Western Conference. The Clippers drastically outperformed their Staples Center neighbors the Lakers, who ended up 10th in the West with a 37-45 record. It is clear the Clippers have set themselves up for further success in the years to come as well. This article will look to depict the reasons for the Clippers success this season. While explaining why they are positioned to further their aspirations toward being championship contenders.

            The reasons for the Clippers success can be narrowed down to three major keys. These being great front office management, strong coaching, and quality roster construction. Beginning with the front offices’ impact, the strong performance of this contingent has helped improve their basketball operations. With president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, General Manager Michael Winger, and Consultant Jerry West making quality personnel decisions that have facilitated a winning culture. The multitude of moves made by the Clippers front office have contributed to aiding the team’s present and future. With the different trades they made this season, these transactions brought quality assets and financial flexibility to the franchise. They traded quality players like wings Tobias Harris and Wesley Johnson, centers Mike Muscala and Boban Marjanovic, and guard Avery Bradley. Freeing up valuable cap space to become major players in this upcoming off-seasons free agency period. They also acquired young players and draft picks that will facilitate a bright future. The Clippers while giving up several productive players, gained important cap space and young assets. Rebuilding the roster and cap situation helped them stay competitive this season. While also becoming an attractive spot for top free agents to want to come to this offseason.

            In terms of coaching, with Doc Rivers at the helm, the team has a great coach in place. In Doc Rivers, the Clippers are led by a coach who has won an NBA Title, coach of the year, and owns 894 career wins and a .576 winning percentage. Rivers has had at least 3 winning seasons with three different franchises, showing his ability to adapt and have success in several places. Rivers style as a coach and player revolves around defense. The Clippers tied for 11th in defensive rating this season.  This solid ranking shows his ability to communicate and get his players to buy into his system remain a top skill of his. Rivers as an established winning coach will continue to make a strong impact on the Clippers young players and lead this franchise. Having this kind of stability at the coaching position makes the front offices job much easier. Knowing they will have a great coach to rely on to lead this franchise to championship success.

Finally, regarding the roster assembly, they have found a good balance between acquiring young players. Along with adding affordable veterans that have experience and toughness. Accomplishing this through affordable and smart acquisitions allowed them to create major cap space. In terms of the young talent they have accumulated these players include; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Montrezl Harrell, Landry Shamet, and Ivica Zubac. All these players provided quality production this season, as well as, a glimpse of a bright future for the team. With Gilgeous-Alexander and Shamet these two young guards give the Clippers length, athleticism, and scoring ability in their backcourt for years to come. The duo combined to average 19.9 points and 4.8 assists. They complement each other’s game on the court, with Gilgeous-Alexander being a slasher/driver and Shamet a smooth perimeter shooter. The youth in the frontcourt with Harrell and Zubac provide L.A. good size along with consistent effort and energy. Zubac after coming in the trade from the Lakers gave the Clippers surprising production on the interior averaging 9.4 points and 7.7 rebounds. Harrell is a high motor player, who had a career year. Harrell averaged 16.6 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting an efficient 61.5% from the field. He became a key cog in the Clippers success this year and for their future.

The veterans this team brought in over the past few years include Patrick Beverley, Danilo Gallinari, Lou Williams, and Garret Temple. In Beverley and Temple, you have two bulldogs at guard who are productive on both ends. Both reciprocate the defensive snarl Doc Rivers wants from his players. As both players took on tough defensive assignments each night and handle themselves well.  They provided solid offense with Beverly averaging 7.6 points and Temple 7.8 points.  Not eye-popping averages, but they provided solid shooting from three at 39 and 34 percent respectively as well. The effectiveness of these players on both sides of the floor thus provide reliable options for Doc Rivers to lean on. In Gallinari and Williams these two are the primary offensive weapons for the Clippers. Gallinari averages 19.8 points per game and Lou Williams 20.0 points per game giving the Clippers a pair of quality scorers to play through games. They both shoot above 35 percent from three and 87 percent from the free throw line. These two veterans give Doc Rivers the scoring leaders needed to allow other players to settle into their roles. This type of balanced depth across the roster give the Clippers versatility and toughness that will them to be a tough opponent in the Western Conference going forward.

Even with losing their first round series in 6 games to the Golden State Warriors. They got valuable experience for their young players and grew closer as a team. The Clippers thanks to all the factors mentioned, have positioned themselves to be a major player in the West in the future. They have put together a roster that is full of affordable, quality players both young and experienced. They have accumulated likely 61.7 million dollars of cap space to utilize this offseason. While having a strong power structure from Owner Steve Balmer, to GM Lawrence Franks, Consultant Jerry West, and Head Coach Doc Rivers. The Clippers are well set-up to makes big moves this offseason as an organization. The Clippers are not only the best Basketball team who resides in Staples Center currently. They also are more prepared for consistent success for years to come then their arena mates.