Even with maybe their greatest defender, Kawhi Leonard, out all the preseason, the Clippers have nonetheless overwhelmed groups on protection.
All through coaching camp, the Clippers have made it their purpose to be a tricky defensive group, to make it arduous on opponents to attain, to be gritty and sound on protection.
“We’re getting after it defensively,” James Harden stated after Monday evening’s preseason win over the Dallas Mavericks.
The Clippers had 20 steals towards the Mavericks. Middle Ivica Zubac led the best way with 4 and Harden and Kevin Porter Jr. had three.
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Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy has been in control of the protection and has been insisting on high-level play.
“We obtained to scrub up some issues,” Harden stated. “We need to be good. We obtained Jeff Van Gundy, who’s on us on a regular basis about being good defensively, trigger that’s like the prospect that now we have. In order that’s our predominant focus after which as you possibly can see a bit little bit of glimpse of it [Monday night]. It generated some fast-break alternatives, which we transformed. In order that’s what we’re going to hold our hats off on.”
In 4 preseason video games, the Clippers have allowed a median of simply 98 factors per recreation. Solely the Brooklyn Nets have scored greater than 100 factors (106) towards the Clippers.
Clippers assistant coach Brian Shaw additionally credited Van Gundy for serving to spearhead the staff’s give attention to protection.
“I imply, there’s at all times room for enchancment,” Shaw stated. “I believe that the largest factor is that Van Gundy has empowered them to be tremendous aggressive in that they will’t make a mistake so long as they’re enjoying arduous. And like I stated, being aggressive.”
Shaw stated they’ve high wing defenders in Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn, Porter, Terance Mann and Amir Coffey.
Meaning the Clippers can defend all around the court docket and really feel snug with any of them.
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“We now have versatility by way of guys that may play a number of positions and defend a number of positions,” Shaw stated. “In order that ought to be a power of ours.”
The Clippers must make the most of that power of their preseason finale Thursday towards the Sacramento Kings on the Intuit Dome with Leonard unable to play due to irritation in his proper knee. It is nonetheless unclear if Leonard will play within the Clippers’ season opener at dwelling towards the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 23.
“He has not been part of what we’ve been doing every day,” Shaw stated. “I do know the form of firm line has been that we’re going to be affected person with him. So, he’s doing every part that he can to rehab it and strengthen that knee on his personal [and] with our medical employees and we’re simply coping with the blokes that now we have.”
This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Instances.
