After the last two seasons, fans wouldn't have expected a Los Angeles team to collapse after losing Russell Westbrook. But the Clippers are struggling since Westbrook fractured his hand.
Kawhi Leonard when asked about Russell Westbrook:
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) March 18, 2024
“He’s another guy that comes in with energy, giving us a fast pace… Another defender, another scorer. We definitely miss him.”
Westbrook's numbers this season have been far removed from his usual stat-stuffing. He's averaging 11.1 points, the lowest point total of his career, in 22.6 minutes, also a career-low.
But Westbrook has sublimated his game for the star-studded Clippers, taking a back seat to Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden. He's taking more shots at the rim and dunking more than he has in four years. Freed from offensive responsibilities, Westbrook is blocking shots at the highest pace of his career and getting steals more often then he has since 2018-19, clear signs of high effort on defense.
That's very important for a Clippers team that has admittedly had issues with effort. After getting blown out by the 30-37 Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, Leonard said the team's effort was lacking.
Kawhi Leonard postgame: "We didn't really give all the effort that we could have gave."
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 18, 2024
Paul George: "We want to be a team that's consistent and we want to establish an identity... Right now I don't think we have an identity."
James Harden left without speaking to media after…
That was also the refrain Mar. 12, after the Clippers squandered a 22-point lead to the Minnesota Timberwolves and went on to lose by 18.
Paul George: "For the most part it's been the same Achilles heel we've been having. It's giving up offensive rebounds. Transition, we were good to start the season off, but we've had slippage there. But I think more than anything, we got to give a little bit more effort."
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 13, 2024
Me:… pic.twitter.com/HL9v8cVIDr
Say what you will about Westbrook's efficiency or shot selection, but his effort has never lacked. The same can't be said for his teammates in the last few weeks, especially when it comes to playing defense in transition. Some of that is caused by sloppy turnovers, while some comes from not consistently running hard.
In the Clippers' 53 games prior to the All-Star break, they had 3 games where they allowed 20+ points off turnovers and 20+ fast break points in the game contest.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 18, 2024
Since the All-Star break, the Clippers have allowed that to happen 5 times in just 14 games.
It isn't helping that the Clippers aren't getting much from Bones Hyland, pressed into service as the backup guard with Westbrook out. In the last nine games, he's averaged under six points per game — and 1.4 turnovers.
Not long after Lakers fans at the Crypto.com Arena regularly chanted "Westbrick" at the nine-time All-Star, the Clippers and their fans fervently hope Westbrook can get back on the court. Otherwise, they're doomed to more postgame news conferences about not trying, and even more losing.
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