Last season, fans and pundits were hard-pressed to find an opposing team to outscore the Los Angeles Clippers. When their "Big 3" of Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Paul George were healthy and clicking on all cylinders, the Clippers were a sweet sight for fans and a nightmare to contain for defenders.
However, the script has flipped heading into the new season. With PG no longer on the team and Kawhi on the mend from a recurring knee inflammation issue, the Clippers are focused on dominating the defensive end of the floor. Sam Quinn of CBS Sports has the team finishing in the top 10 in defensive rating.
Clippers have numerous defensive-minded players
Although the team still has 2018 league MVP James Harden, a player whose defense has been heavily criticized, they have added some key pieces to improve their defensive prowess. This includes veteran wing Nicolas Batum, a "3-and-D" specialist who can help the Clippers flourish in switching defensive schemes, and athletic forward Derrick Jones Jr., the former Slam Dunk champion who has transitioned into a stellar perimeter defender who's more than willing to take on the task of defending the other team's best perimeter weapon.
The team also has noted ball hawk Kris Dunn and underrated shot blocker Ivica Zubac.
"The Clippers are a defense-first team now. In that respect, James Harden is still a negative, and Kawhi Leonard's health will always be a concern. Still, the Clippers went out of their way this offseason to reorient the roster around cheaper, defensive-minded wings," Quinn wrote.
Win with defense
The Clippers are taking this approach all in. The team doesn't have any reliable offensive go-to guys outside of Harden and, to a certain degree, Norman Powell. If they stay afloat in the Western Conference, they must do it with defense.
"Ty Lue, like (Nick) Nurse, is willing to mix things up and try unusual coverages to swing games. His tendency to lean on offense-first players over defenders in lineup choices might be an issue, but this roster doesn't give him much choice. If the Clippers are going to win, it will have to be with defense," Quinn added.
Related: Ivica Zubac is confident that Kai Jones will be a valuable asset to the LA Clippers this season