The Clippers finally found their defense
With an average of 37.8 points and excellent percentages (52% shooting success, 46% on 3-pointers), Kawhi Leonard is exceptional in the current winning streak of Clippers.
But if they’re on a five-game winning streak, it’s not just because “Klav” is developing at this level. That’s also because Los Angeles’ defense is much more efficient.
Indeed, through five games, Tyronn Lue’s troops posted a defensive efficiency (points allowed over 100 possessions) of 106.1. To understand the performance, simply compare it to last season’s Thunder defense, lauded for its strength: 106.6 points per 100 possessions. So it’s nothing.
“It’s just a sense of urgency, understanding that we have a good group in this locker room that can win.”, answers Chris Dunn to justify this renewal in defense. Almost back to normal from last season, the Clippers were one of the best defenses: they were third behind the Thunder and Magic.
The return of Derrick Jones Jr. is also valuable
And for the playmaker, “It all started during the Lakers game.” “Everybody was in good shape that day and everybody did their best. Something happened that day. We were in a bad situation for a while and everybody said they had to do their job to get out. Everybody gave it their all.”
In addition to Chris Dunn, whose defensive performances are known and praised by Tyronn Lue, for two matches, the Clippers can again count on Derrick Jones Jr, who returned from injury.
“What they can do with Dan on defense is huge. Jones Jr. and Dan are game changers for us.”notes Tyronn Lue when talking about the win against the Pistons. “Everyone is highly motivated and can come to the aid of their teammates to make up for mistakes”continues the winger. “Everyone is doing their best and that’s what counts.”
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Ft | Pts |
| Kawhi Leonard | 22 | 33:52 | 49.9 | 38.6 | 97.0 | 1.1 | 5.4 | 6.5 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 27.8 |
| James Harden | 30 | 35:38 | 43.4 | 36.7 | 88.8 | 0.5 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 7.9 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 26.1 |
| Ivica Zubac | 28 | 10:00 p.m | 60.9 | 0 | 71.3 | 3.4 | 7.7 | 11.1 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 15.6 |
| John Collins | 31 | 26:46 | 51.6 | 34.4 | 82.4 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 12.5 |
| Derrick Jones Jr. | 15 | 24:08 | 52.5 | 35.4 | 80.0 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 9.8 |
| Chris Dunn | 32 | 26:49 | 50.5 | 40.0 | 71.9 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 2.4 | 8.3 |
| Bradley Beal | 6 | 20:10 | 37.5 | 36.8 | 75.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 8.2 |
| Bogdan Bogdanovic | 16 | 22:30 | 37.6 | 33.3 | 84.2 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 2.5 | 8.0 |
| Brooke Lopez | 25 | 17:05 | 40.5 | 40.6 | 81.0 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 7.1 |
| Kobe Sanders | 24 | 19:08 | 44.3 | 37.9 | 89.3 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 6.2 |
| Jordan Miller | 11 | 12:55 | 50.0 | 41.2 | 85.0 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 5.5 |
| Nicholas Batum | 31 | 20:35 | 38.8 | 39.1 | 85.7 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 4.7 |
| Cam Christie | 20 | 10:00 | 34.4 | 30.0 | 70.0 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 3.7 |
| Kobe Brown | 21 | 11:06 | 36.9 | 23.8 | 83.3 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 3.5 |
| Janic Konan Niederhauser | 16 | 7:53 | 72.4 | 0.0 | 57.1 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 3.4 |
| Chris Paul | 16 | 14:15 | 32.1 | 33.3 | 50.0 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 2.9 |
| Jahmil Telforth | 8 | 4:00 am | 0.0 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 |
| Ray Dennis | 1 | 4:00 am | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
2026-01-01 15:10:00
