NBA Power Rankings week 15: OKC Thunder and teams hit trade deadline
team. 77. . 34-15. Previous: 3rd. Los Angeles Clippers. 5
LA Clippers:
Offense: (112.2) 6th
Defense: (106.2) 6th
Net: (plus +6.0) tied 5th
Results Week 15: (1-1) Tues at Lakers (canceled), Wolves: 118-106, Lost vs. Kings: 103-124
Games Week 16: (4 games) Mon vs Spurs | Weds vs Heat | Sat at Wolves | Sun at Cavaliers
Like the Lakers, the Clippers (and for that matter every team in the league) were directly affected by Kobe Bryant’s death. For many of the current era of stars, Bryant was their M.J. growing up and who they tailored their games after.
Kawhi Leonard who rarely speaks held a lengthy session with the press answering questions about Bryant, his relationship and the effect on him personally.
The postponed Tuesday game will be made up at some point in the season and with both clubs tenants of the Staples Center, it should help with the semantics.
Week 15 served up a split decision where once again the team lost without Leonard in the rotation after his back stiffened up during the warmup. It was the 12th game Leonard was out and Clippers’ seventh loss without him. Of those 12 games, Paul George played in nine and the team amassed a 5-4 record (the three games both stars sat were all losses). LA fares much better in games George is out but Kawhi plays (14-4).
Also of note, the Raptors lost all of five games of 22 Kawhi missed last season and while they’ve added to the rotation they’ve elected to go with their existing stars to fill the Kawhi void and to date have a better record than the Clippers despite the constant revolving door of injuries to their core.