Finally an Identity: Boy oh boy does this Clipper team just feel different. They started out slow, and it seemed like they were going to be plagued by the same lackadaisical lifeless play… and then they weren’t. Russ’ energy seemed infectious and you saw the entire team running and dunking. This carried over to the bench unit where Bones brought in his own energy and swagger. Win, lose, or draw, this team is simply FUN again. Let’s hope they can keep it up.
Russ still got it: Russ seemingly had about 1000 dunks this game, and while that’s obviously not true, his athleticism simply popped. He adds so much pace, so much energy, and so much excitement. Excited to see him continue to bring the vibes and energy!
RoCo: Turns out literally everyone on the planet except Ty Lue were right about RoCo>>> Mook. Nothing is forced when it comes to RoCo. Offensively, he spots up at the 3 ball well, runs in transition, and just doesn’t disrupt the offense. Defensively, wow he really does have the best hands. His inclusion in the starting lineup felt natural, and while I’m still excited to see what Mann can do, having RoCo as a potential starter ain’t bad.
New Year, Better Roster: Simply put, it’s pretty damn clear how upgraded this roster is from the start of last season. Going from Reggie, Wall, Moses Brown, and Mook to Russ, Bones, Plumlee, and RoCo is HUGE.
Zubac: Boy oh boy was he dominant. He ate people UP in the paint and it’s clear he’s getting the Russ effect when it comes to centers benefiting from the MVP.
Kawhi/PG get to do their thing: Speaking of being dominant, it was great to see Kawhi/PG playing their game. Not being forced into facilitator roles or pass first guys. Just two way players. Russ is really doing good things for them.
The bad:
Norm’s fit: I love Norm. I think he’s a highly effective 3 level scorer. But he was pretty weirdly being iced out most of the game, and when Mann comes back and the Clippers continue to stagger their lineups more and more… it gets a bit challenging to see his fit with the squad. Unless Kawhi/PG get injured soon, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on the trade block sooner than later.
Bench defense: The bench unit seems fun. Very fun. But their defense seems… less fun. Bones, Norm, and Plumlee are simply not good defenders. They’ll need Batum/RoCo to help a significant amount, or they have to great creative with their lineups.
Takeways!
The good:
The bad:
Ayton catching a stray😭😭