Defenses Can't Find Holes in Clippers' Screens
It’s no secret that the Clippers love to run the pick-and-roll. And why shouldn’t they? They boast two starting big men, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, who are both quick to the basket and explosive finishers at the rim. Just as important, if not more, seven-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul is a precision passer, with possibly the best court vision in the league. In addition, Griffin’s enhanced midrange game this season gives the Clippers many more opportunities to pick and pop, effectively diversifying their screen offense and making the Clippers’ offense less predictable than it has been in years past.
The Clippers actually set fewer screens than the league average at 0.98 Set Screens per Chance, but when they do, the screens tend to be highly effective. Los Angeles is leading the league in both Set Screen Points per Chance with 0.20 (league average = 0.14), as well as Set Screen Outcome Efficiency at a rate of 17.77 (league average = 13.35). Set Screen Outcome Efficiency is a Vantage Stat that measures the percentage of set screens that result in a teammate score, a missed open shot, a shooting foul, or an Assist+. It should also be noted that the Clippers boast the league’s fourth-highest Solid Screen% at 76.01.
The Clippers’ best screen setters are easily DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin, and Glen “Big Baby” Davis. In fact, these three guys are among the best in the NBA at setting picks. Read more >>
Clippers Dominate With Deep Bench, Turnover-Forcing Defense
The Los Angeles Clippers are clearly the best team in L.A., but the team’s floor general and star, Chris Paul, has repeatedly said he doesn’t care about that. It’s all about a championship and for the first time in history, a ring may not be out of the question for “L.A.’s other team.”
After Friday’s games, the Clippers hold the league’s second-best record, just percentage points behind the defending Western Conference champions. They didn’t lose all December, posting a perfect 16-0 mark as part of a 17-game winning streak. The winning streak was the longest since the Celtics rattled off 19 in a row four years earlier. During the Clippers’ impressive streak, they had the luxury of playing 10 home games and a slew of weak opponents. To their credit, however, they won in Utah twice, where road opponents other than the Clippers have gone a miserable 2-10. Over the 17-game winning streak, the Clippers held their opponents to 90 or fewer points 10 times.
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