OKC Thunder: NBA Power Rankings week 10 – All-Star break edition

LA Clippers:

Week 10: 2-2
Won vs: Wizards 135-116, Grizzlies 119-99
Lost to: Grizzlies 94-122, Bucks 100-105

Opponents this week: Celtics, Wizards

Offensive Rating: 116.7 (4th) | Defensive Rating: 110.9 (15th) | Net Differential: +5.8 (4th)

When this Clippers squad has everyone on the court and dialed in they look like the best team and most adept two-way club in the association.

Through the four games this week Kawhi Leonard has looked MVP worthy. He averaged 26 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists while shooting 39 percent from the perimeter.

While this club looks like world-beaters against the very best teams they can look equally disinterested or unprepared on any given night. The perfect example was delivered this week when the Grizzlies put a beat down on LA with those 72 paint points. In contrast, the Clippers scored just 24 in the paint. Those two stats highlight the Clippers weren’t defending their own paint nor were they aggressive driving the ball into the offensive paint.

That’s effort pure and simple. Last season part of the problem with this Clippers squad was also tied to the character and identity (or lack thereof) of the team. Whispers of disenchantment in the locker room regarding the disparity with how stars Leonard and George were treated leaked out. Then the choke happened in the bubble, Doc Rivers was fired and Montrezl Harrell took the tunnel to join the other Staples team.

Ty Lue was hired while Serge Ibaka and Nic Batum were added to bolster the Clippers’ depth, add experience, height, and players with a higher skill set.

So the fact, this crew is still committing some of the same mental errors is befuddling. If there is one red flag it’s that the Clippers are missing a veteran leader. Someone who will garner enough respect to have players listen and who is willing to accept that role. For as great as Kawhi and PG is it sure doesn’t seem like they are capable or desirous of filling that glaring hole.