Time for a Change in L.A.?
The Los Angeles Clippers have the most talented roster in the NBA. With a who's who of high profile players from Chris Paul and Blake Griffin to Paul Pierce and Josh Smith, many experts predict the Clippers will win the championship this season. But with a 6-7 start, those predictions may be far fetched.
After losing a 3-1 series lead to the Houston Rockets in the western conference semifinals, the Clippers when into the off season looking to improve an already talented team. Austin Rivers showed signs of life during the postseason which solidified his as the backup point guard. Resigning DeAndre Jordan to a 4-year $87 million deal kept the league leader in rebounds and 1st team all defense center from bolting to the Dallas Mavericks in the late hours of free agency. Adding Wesley Matthews, Paul Pierce, Josh Smith and Lance Stephenson has strengthen a bench that was 23rd in scoring and 28th in points allowed.
The Clippers started this season off hot winning its first 4 games by an average of 8.5 points per game. Blake Griffin was leading the way by averaging 29,5 points per game while DeAndre Jordan averaged 13.5 rebounds per game. Since then the Clippers have been a below average team to say the least going 2-7 in its last 9 games; which includes a current 3 game losing streak. During the last 9 games the Clippers are being outscored by an average of 107-100 per game.
The Clippers is too good of a basketball team to be 6-7 to start the season and something has to change. If losing a 20+ point leading to the Warriors at home wasn't enough, you follow that up with back-to-back double digit losses. Doc Rivers is suppose to bring defense and toughness to the Clippers and currently they 24th in points allowed per game (104.5).
Sometime its tough when you have to place the blame on a head coach but with a roster this talented, the problem starts at the top. The Clippers organization has done its job as far as bringing in the right personnel to win games. Maybe a change at coach will spark this team to play at the championship level contention we expect from them.
After losing a 3-1 series lead to the Houston Rockets in the western conference semifinals, the Clippers when into the off season looking to improve an already talented team. Austin Rivers showed signs of life during the postseason which solidified his as the backup point guard. Resigning DeAndre Jordan to a 4-year $87 million deal kept the league leader in rebounds and 1st team all defense center from bolting to the Dallas Mavericks in the late hours of free agency. Adding Wesley Matthews, Paul Pierce, Josh Smith and Lance Stephenson has strengthen a bench that was 23rd in scoring and 28th in points allowed.
The Clippers started this season off hot winning its first 4 games by an average of 8.5 points per game. Blake Griffin was leading the way by averaging 29,5 points per game while DeAndre Jordan averaged 13.5 rebounds per game. Since then the Clippers have been a below average team to say the least going 2-7 in its last 9 games; which includes a current 3 game losing streak. During the last 9 games the Clippers are being outscored by an average of 107-100 per game.
The Clippers is too good of a basketball team to be 6-7 to start the season and something has to change. If losing a 20+ point leading to the Warriors at home wasn't enough, you follow that up with back-to-back double digit losses. Doc Rivers is suppose to bring defense and toughness to the Clippers and currently they 24th in points allowed per game (104.5).
Sometime its tough when you have to place the blame on a head coach but with a roster this talented, the problem starts at the top. The Clippers organization has done its job as far as bringing in the right personnel to win games. Maybe a change at coach will spark this team to play at the championship level contention we expect from them.
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