The Los Angeles Clippers have been less than impressive this season and have fallen short of expectations to this point, posting a 14-10 record through the first quarter of the season. Here's what we've seen from them so far this year:
Best win: 94-92 victory over Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 9
Los Angeles has a bunch of decent wins to this point, their win over the Grizzlies proved they could grind out a physical victory against the most physical team in the league, which is a good sign for the Clipper when the postseason comes around.
Worst loss: 102-91 loss to Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 20
Portland is one of just two teams with losing records that have beaten the Clippers, but they snapped a seven-game losing streak with this convincing win over LA that wasn't as close as the score indicated. It's definitely the most embarrassing loss of the season for the Clippers so far.
Biggest surprise: Weakness on the glass
The Clippers are usually one of the better rebounding teams in the league with DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin down low, but they've been one of the worst so far this season despite an improved big man rotation. They rank 23rd in the league in rebounding, largely due to a lack of effort down low, which has been a big reason behind their struggles this year.
Biggest disappointment: Lack of reliable rotation
The Clippers have four solid, reliable starters in Jordan, Griffin, Chris Paul, and J.J. Redick, but outside of that, they haven't been able to figure out their rotation. Head coach Doc Rivers is still looking for a starting small forward he can count on, and they haven't been able to fully incorporate newcomers Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson, and Josh Smith into their bench rotation. All that (should) come in time, but it is a major cause for concern.
Panic or Promise?
Panic. The Clippers need to win now, and they've taken a step back while the Warriors are undefeated and the Spurs have gotten better. There's still plenty of time for Los Angeles to figure it out and play like a title contender, but when you spend a quarter of the season looking like a fringe playoff team instead, it's time to panic.
Back to the Los Angeles Clippers Newsfeed