LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 22: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on in a game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center on February 22, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
The Clippers have the talent to win the 2020 NBA title, but teams looking to knock them off should focus on these three strategies.
Doc Rivers is one coach who certainly didn’t want to see the NBA season suspended. His Clippers were off to a flying 44-20 start which was good for second place in the Western Conference. Make no mistake about it, Los Angeles’ “other team” has legitimate title aspirations this season.
The presence of star power on the roster makes the team’s success easy to understand. Kawhi Leonard is still one of the game’s most productive players at the age of 29. Paul George gives the Clippers another wing capable of dominating the competition. A strong supporting cast consisting of players like Lou Williams, Marcus Morris, and Patrick Beverley gives the team a unique ability to thrive against any opponent.
The Clippers aren’t invincible though. There are noticeable chinks in the armor. Opponents preparing to play Los Angeles in this year’s playoffs should pay close attention to the following blueprint of how to knock off this Western Conference contender.
So how do you beat the Los Angeles Clippers in a playoff series?
Prevent the Clippers from getting to the line: A big reason why Rivers’ team was the third-best offense in the NBA this season was their ability to get to the foul line. The Clippers were actually second in the league in free throw rate despite having little to no post presence to speak of.
The way Los Angeles generates fouls is by attacking the basket with its length. Leonard and George are both masters at using their bodies to create contact on the way to the rim. Throw in Montrez’ Harrell’s ability to put pressure on opposing bigs when diving to the rim on the pick-and-roll and you have a recipe for a lot of trips to the charity stripe.
The easy advice here is for teams to live with the idea that Leonard and George are going to find some good looks off the dribble. Giving in and fouling them on their way to the basket only gives them a chance to earn cheap free throws and and-1 opportunities. Teams wanting to stop the Clippers in the playoffs need to be satisfied with playing sound, but unspectacular defense. They should use the general decline of whistles in the postseason to their advantage.
Force Lou Williams to the bench: Williams may not be a regular member of this team’s starting five, but he has the offensive talent to turn any game on its ear. The good news for Clippers’ opponents is that his lack of size and defensive acumen make neutralizing him relatively straightforward.
Any time Williams comes on the floor he should be targeted by the best perimeter player on the other team. Opposing coaches must be ruthless with that philosophy in the playoffs. A single possession shouldn’t go by without putting pressure on Williams to stop the primary offensive action.
The current absence of Beverley from the active roster may force the Clippers into playing Williams more than they like in the postseason. He’s going to be a plus on offense. The key for opponents is making sure that he’s a big negative on the defensive end of the floor.
Make Paul George shoot 2s: The Clippers don’t want to admit it, but George isn’t the same explosive athlete that he was during the prime of his career. He really benefits from the open looks his teammates create for him. It’s impressive that he’s blossomed into a borderline elite 3-point shooter, but it’s also important to note just how poor his shooting has become from inside the arc.
This season he’s shooting 39.9 from behind the arc, but that number only increases slightly to 46.3 percent on 2-pointers. That’s powering him to a decent, but unspectacular true shooting percentage of 53% on the year.
It may seem like a dangerous strategy to employ, but the right play to guard George this season is to force him to put the ball on the floor. Allowing him to stand still on the wings and bomb 3s is a great way to get the Clippers’ offense rolling. Forcing him to take contested jump shots from inside the arc should be the goal of every opposing defense. Even forcing him to take challenged shots at the rim is better than allowing him clean looks from distance.
The ability of Leonard to pressure the defense off the dribble makes it difficult for opposing defenders to stay tight on the Clippers’ shooters on the perimeter. The best strategy might be to let Leonard get his points and stop the perimeter guys from opening the floodgates up from the outside.
George should be regarded as one of Los Angeles’ most dangerous scoring threats. His height and length allow him to get 3-point shots off even when smaller defenders stay tight to him. Opponents should use their big wings to stay tight to George at all times. He’s going to make some plays off the dribble, but that’s not where his efficiency has come from this season.
Making George the star of the Clippers’ offense isn’t going to be a comfortable strategy for any team in the playoffs. It is the right poison to pick though. Every time he’s forced to take a contested two is a big win for teams looking to knock Los Angeles off.