NBA | Clippers attain the depth chart to get by means of the 5-in-7 stretch, however the margin for error is gone.

NEW ORLEANS — March started with the LA Clippers avoiding an embarrassing loss to the Los Angeles Lakers that allowed them to even the common season collection at 2-2. However apart from beginning heart Ivica Zubac, who was recovering from an sickness, the Clippers have been totally wholesome as they ready to host the Washington Wizards.

Sadly for the Clippers, that stretch of the rotation to remain wholesome did not even final till halftime. Backup level guard Russell Westbrook fractured his hand defending backup Washington guard Jordan Poole within the second quarter. Westbrook hasn’t missed a daily season or playoff recreation with the Clippers since becoming a member of the staff in the course of the 2023 All-Star break. His position has modified rather a lot as he is moved from first unit to second unit, however Westbrook has been a constant presence all through and a invaluable staff member on and off the ground.

Westbrook’s harm got here at a time when it was changing into clear that start line guard James Harden was flagging considerably. Harden lit up the defenseless Wizards for 28 factors to start out the month, however then missed all 10 of his subject aim makes an attempt in a slender highway win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Harden prolonged his streak to 59 video games to start his tenure with the Clippers on Tuesday night time in an embarrassing loss at house to the Timberwolves, however the recreation marked his third straight during which he scored 15 factors. Did not get. Whereas Harden traveled for highway video games towards the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans, the Clippers held him out of each video games with a strained left shoulder.

The Clippers are the oldest staff within the NBA. Handing over playmaking duties to All-Stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, first Westbrook, then Harden, proved helpful to the staff’s efforts to safe each for a playoff run. Leonard has already performed his most regular-season video games (60) as a Clipper, and his most minutes (2,056) since leaving the San Antonio Spurs in 2018. meniscus that has ended or saved him out of seasons and postseason runs.

George has additionally reached 60 video games and a couple of,000 minutes for the primary time in his 5 seasons with the Clippers. Whereas Leonard persistently attracts double groups and is the highest possibility on offense, George has vacillated between being a main isolation scorer and an off-ball luxurious.

However even Leonard and George have proven indicators of damage. Each have been held out of Sunday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks to organize for the rest of a grueling five-game, seven-day stretch. George, who needed to miss back-to-back video games with a “meniscus tear” in late February, has dealt with it nicely. He has scored 20 or extra factors in six consecutive video games performed. However Leonard could not shut out Tuesday’s loss to the Timberwolves after taking a shot to the again to start out the weekend.

Kawhi goes by means of the method of what it took for him to play tonight. Says he was sore the primary week vs. the Bulls. pic.twitter.com/OJlGpCqixa

— Legislation Murray 🧭 (@LawMurrayTheNU) March 15, 2024

The Clippers have received 5 of their 9 video games in March. Three of the losses have been on zero days’ relaxation towards groups that had at the very least sooner or later off earlier than internet hosting. Three losses noticed a mix of Leonard, George or Harden fail to finish the sport. However two of the losses got here after the Clippers led by at the very least 15 factors. The Clippers’ solely win towards a profitable staff in March was an 89-88 victory at Minnesota that was considerably overturned 9 days later. And Friday night time’s 112-104 highway loss to the New Orleans Pelicans resulted in one other Western Convention opponent that the Clippers misplaced the common season collection to.

With 16 video games remaining, the Clippers head right into a Western Convention and not using a profitable file towards any of the opposite six groups within the prime seven. On Friday, the Clippers competed bodily however had the type of psychological lapses that take away from these bodily efforts, like permitting New Orleans energy ahead/freight practice Zion Williamson to attain considered one of his personal objectives. 14 Paint buckets after Amir Coffey’s tying 3 with lower than 4 seconds left within the third quarter. The Clippers trailed your complete fourth quarter:

The Pelicans (40-26) are chasing the Clippers (42-24) for home-court benefit within the first spherical and now path the Clippers by simply two losses with simply 4 weeks left within the common season. Williamson has dominated the Clippers in three other ways: in November along with his skill to attract free throws, in February along with his skill as a playmaker and now along with his skill to attain inside in March.

However the Clippers are extra centered on the place they’ll enhance. And that is why this stretch of 5 video games in seven days has revealed some silver linings, particularly with Harden, Westbrook, Leonard and George lacking video games.

Leonard started February by saying the Clippers have been profitable expertise. If something, that warning has was a actuality. It is a optimistic that the Clippers could make up for his or her three most humiliating losses (vs. Lakers, at Milwaukee, vs. Timberwolves) with bounceback wins over the Wizards in Houston and Chicago, respectively. Now, coach Tyronn Lue has led requires improved “psychological toughness” in addition to competitiveness, clearly placing the onus on his veteran staff to enhance.

Tyronn Love, when requested if sustaining aggressive integrity falls on his shoulders:

“What do you imply, falls on my shoulders? I am aggressive, I am able to compete now. … I do not play, they know what we now have to do. In order that they needed to do it.” pic.twitter.com/bYjIkqYWVe

— Legislation Murray 🧭 (@LawMurrayTheNU) March 15, 2024

A month in the past, Lue needed to deactivate veteran energy ahead PJ Tucker and third-year level guard Bones Hyland earlier than the All-Star break as a result of they have been pissed off with being disregarded of the enjoying rotation. However Lowe has given each an opportunity to play.

Tucker did not rating in a three-game rotation stint in February, and the Clippers have misplaced their final 4 video games, however he is at the very least proven a better willingness to shoot this month than two of the harder energy forwards within the league. Has diminished his fouls regardless of the security. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Williamson. Tucker additionally echoed Leonard and Lowe in saying the Clippers want to enhance when the expertise is equal and that protection and execution will determine victories.

PJ Tucker repeated Kawhi’s line tonight concerning the Clippers profitable due to their expertise, including that he is on the lookout for them to have extra success in video games like tonight when the staff is extra defensive. Must lean and grind the inventory after stopping. pic.twitter.com/ocnqlayEZq

— Legislation Murray 🧭 (@LawMurrayTheNU) March 16, 2024

Hyland did not play a recreation in February, however his progress this month culminated in the perfect efficiency by a guard all season. In Thursday’s begin in Chicago, his first since Harden’s debut, Hyland had 17 factors (6 of 9 subject objectives), 5 rebounds, 11 assists (one turnover), 4 steals and 4 3s. Hyland spent the month overcoming small obstacles by means of the sport:

• Recreation vs Wizard
• Enjoying within the first half in Minnesota
• Making his first 3 since Dec. 21 at Milwaukee.
• Enjoying with Harden in Houston
• Made a number of 3s in a recreation for the primary time since Dec. 12 vs. Bulls
• Enjoying 20 minutes for the primary time since Nov. 10 vs. Bucks

Hyland mentioned he has been in touch with Harden and Westbrook about how they need to play their roles.

“Simply making an attempt to run the offense, discover my shot once I can, get folks the ball,” Hyland mentioned. Athletic Friday in New Orleans. “However on the similar time, nonetheless utilizing my quickness and my skill to get within the lane, make performs. And simply play how I play.

Harden and Westbrook lacking time has additionally allowed the Clippers to broaden George’s position. Lowe cited the presence of level guards, particularly Harden, as a method of decreasing George’s on-ball hits. However now that the postseason is underway and Harden wants time to get better after main the staff in touches, Lue has declared it is time for George to lean on the ball once more.

This is Tyrone Lowe on Paul George:

“We did not need to hassle him all through the season and must play each recreation… We talked concerning the final 20 video games, placing the ball in PG’s fingers… After we get to the playoffs, We all know precisely what we need to do.” pic.twitter.com/fQ3Gc5Thgi

— Legislation Murray 🧭 (@LawMurrayTheNU) March 15, 2024

The schedule for the Clippers will get lighter the remainder of the month relying on the energy of opponents. The subsequent three video games are towards a short-handed Atlanta Hawks staff, then a miniseries in Portland. Harden may return throughout that stretch. Total, the Clippers are favored over their subsequent 9 video games earlier than beginning seven of their final 5 on April 4 towards the Denver Nuggets. Perhaps Westbrook will be again by then.

However within the meantime, the Clippers have to take the teachings from being with out their greatest gamers and being on the brief finish of the logistical stick and begin making use of them extra persistently. Failure to take action by the top of March may end in them beginning the postseason on the highway, presumably in a spot like New Orleans.

“We have to shoot the ball, we have to create,” George mentioned Friday. “Simply preserve the tempo going. We won’t be a sluggish, half-court staff. We have to select up the tempo.”

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(Photograph of Zion Williamson going to the basket towards Amir Coffey: Stephen Love/USA Right now)