NBA Power Rankings week 11: OKC Thunder continues hot streak
. 26-12. Previous: 6th. Los Angeles Clippers. 4. team. 77
LA Clippers:
Offense: (111.7) 7th
Defense: (105.8) 7th
Net: (plus +5.9) 5th
Games Week 11 (3-1): Won vs. Kings: 105-87, Pistons: 126-112, Knicks: 135-132, Lost to Grizzlies: 114-140
Games Week 12 (2 games): Fri vs Warriors | Sun at Nuggets
Since the Christmas win over the Lakers, the Clippers hold the 26th ranked defensive efficiency (116.6) and have allowed opponents to score 118.2 points (ranked 28th). This is not the stuff of title teams but then again this is not your typical team.
The question is how much the team will suffer by the constant inconsistency of the lineup. And will players like Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell be affected once the majority of shots start going to the two superstars when they return to play consistently together?
Paul George (32), Lou Williams (32) and Montrezl Harrell (34) all scored 30 points Sunday but needed every single one of those points to defeat the hapless Knicks. It was the first time a trio had accomplished this feat in franchise history. The team labored as they have through many recent games with the Clippers 6-5 in their last 11 matches.
Granted, Paul George was out Saturday in the loss to the Grizzlies and Kawhi Leonard was out for load management Sunday, but is this malaise simply because of lack of continuity in the rotation? It certainly feels like there is more to this picture and could the apparent bravado be putting the cart before the horse?