Even in a loaded and revived West, there is a path for Golden State to have a better record just by having a durable rotation and managing minutes. Will the Dubs start this season just like last year, winning 18 of their first 20 games and thrashing opponents with a league-leading defense? Probably not. Similar vibes are floating through Los Angeles heading into this campaign. The last time Leonard took a year off with injury, he came back with a vengeance and reminded everyone why he should be feared. But when you have Norman Powell and Nic Batum coming off the bench and filling in for starters that will inevitably miss games, that’s one of the best insurance policies in the league. Lue will also try to get his all-wing lineups as many reps as possible before the playoffs, when they will be deployed against bigger teams to create advantages. But when it’s closing time, Leonard and George will have the ball in their hands dictating most of the action. Both will bring something different to the table. It’s not going to matter which point guard the Clippers start between Wall and Reggie Jackson. With more halfcourt speed to get downhill, good luck guarding these guys. They were already generating high-quality, open threes during the 2021 season when Leonard and George were the main attackers. Wall’s ability to get two feet in the paint on his line drives will unlock a new dimension to LA’s paint-and-spray offense. In transition frequency and efficiency, expect this team to rise from the bottom of the league to middle of the pack. He looked better than expected during the preseason and should fit well next to the starters or bench units. Even at 32 years old and not playing in a calendar year, Wall is still springy, lightning quick in transition, and most importantly, decisive with the ball. John Wall brings an element Ty Lue has wanted for the last two years. (AP Photo/ John Froschauer) Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. Los Angeles Clippers' John Wall drives past Portland Trailblazers' Jerami Grant during the first. When Luke Kennard and Terance Mann are fighting for consistent minutes in the rotation, it’s a sign that you’re loaded. The big number for the Clippers entering this season, though, is 45 – that will be how many games Leonard and George need to play together if they want a shot at the top seed.Īlthough we’ve been top-heavy teams that proved to be juggernauts (KD-Steph Warriors), there hasn’t been an NBA team in the last 20 years to match the depth of these 2023 Clippers. This projection of 57 wins assumes he’ll play between 55-58 games, missing scheduled back-to-backs and factoring in the usual wear-and-tear.
Leonard’s movement and burst in the preseason looked encouraging after 15 months of rehab and time away from competitive basketball.
More than any iteration of the Kawhi and PG-led Clippers, this team has answers to every problem they’ll face when the chips are down. I previously wrote about LA’s roster construction and why it’s tailor-made for both regular season and playoff success.
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