Los Angeles Clippers – Strengths
Perimeter defense
A lineup that includes Patrick Beverley, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George will make their halfcourt defense suffocating, regardless. However, if Doc Rivers chooses to insert Maurice Harkless into the starting lineup, at the 4 position, good luck to any team trying to score.
Last season, Rivers chose to put Beverley on the opposing team’s best scoring wing/guard, but now they will have the flexibility of throwing George, Kawhi, and Harkless, at the offensive player, as well as have the defensive versatility to switch positions 1 through 4.
In other words, even if the ball handler chooses to run pick-and-roll and attempts to force a switch, he will have four great on-ball defenders, with large wingspans, on him and the only mismatch he will have an advantage over will be the center position.
Points off turnovers
We all saw how dangerous the Heat’s big three were when they got out in transition, but it all was because of Chris Bosh’s foot speed, despite being a big man, and how great LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were in the passing lanes.
There is no young D-Wade or LeBron on this team to make the highlight reel every week through flashy lobs plays, but the Clippers play style will be just as effective. The Clippers have two guys who can be considered identical in this facet of the game (reading and playing the passing lanes), in George and Leonard.
This past season, George averaged 2.2 steals per game and Leonard had 1.8. Even Beverley has proven he has great hands, though his steals tend to occur when playing on-ball defense rather than reading an opponent’s pass. One thing that Hall of Famer, Charles Barkley, has repeatedly pointed out on Inside the NBA, the past couple of years, is that the team that wins the rebound battle and commits fewer turnovers tends to have the best chance at winning. The Clippers will rarely ever be underdogs for at least one of those team stats.
Closing lineups
In crunch time, teams will have their hands full. A potential lineup of Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Montrezl Harrell will be a good combination of both offense and defense.
It will be extremely hard to trap/blitz Kawhi since he will have a rim roller, in Harrell, 3-point shooting, in Lou, George, and Beverley, and most importantly, shot creation with both Lou and George on the floor.
Last season, Kawhi was the only threat to create off the dribble in Toronto, and likewise, Lou was the lone man for the Clippers. For the 2019-20 season, that will no longer be the case anymore.
Team chemistry
Besides the additions of Leonard, George, and Harkless, for the most part, the core remains practically the same. It will take time for these three new names to become acclimated, but the rest of the roster is already familiar with Doc’s system; the supporting cast knows how to play off one another, are well aware where their teammates’ sweet spots are, the defensive schemes Doc uses, and so on.