5 things: Clippers start the new year right by crushing Sixers
It's the Sixers...
Unfortunately, it has to be said. The Sixers are the great elixir for any decent team that's struggling and looking for a pick-me-up.
The rested Clippers were far from struggling heading into tonight's game, winning a league-leading five games in a row (now six), and the Sixers were on the second night of a back-to-back. Basically, it was the perfect recipe for a blowout, with or without Blake Griffin (torn left quad) and Paul Pierce (rest). The Clippers shot a ridiculous 60.5 percent from the floor (63.3 percent through three quarters), and easily rolled after taking control of the game late in the second quarter.
Small and steady wins the race
With Griffin and Pierce out of the lineup, the Clippers exclusively played small-ball units with Luc Mbah a Moute, Wesley Johnson or Lance Stephenson at power forward. The extra spacing has opened up the middle of the floor recently, allowing Chris Paul's drive-and-kick game to flourish as he finds a slew of shooters.Paul finished with 14 assists tonight, including five on 3-pointers.
Los Angeles shot 12-of-23 (52.2 percent) on 3-pointers tonight, and are far more dangerous when they are spreading opposing defenses thin and making them pick their poison between defending Paul-DeAndre Jordan pick-and-rolls and closing out on shooters.
Jumpman Jordan
In theory, the player who would benefit most from Griffin's absence would be DeAndre Jordan, as he has more room to roll to the rim, attack the offensive glass and flash into open space. Though Jordan had been more active offensively over the past few games, he only did so slightly.
Tonight, however, Jordan went for a season-high 22 points (9-of-10 shooting), marking the first time he had scored over 16 points in almost a month. He routinely abused the Philadelphia big men in the pick and roll, finishing with dunk after dunk.
Jordan had a difficult time stopping rookie Jahlil Okafor (23 points), but he more than made up for that on the other end.
Them boys up to somethin'
After trying various combinations all year, it seems as if the Doc Rivers has stumbled into a five-man bench lineup in Griffin's absence.
The cast: Pablo Prigioni at point guard, Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers on the wings, Cole Aldrich at center, and then Wesley Johnson or Lance Stephenson (more often Johnson) at power forward. Of course, this has come with Pierce starting in place of Griffin (Johnson started tonight), so it'll be interesting to see who will be dropped from the lineup once Griffin returns. Austin Rivers led all scorers with a season-high 26 points (11-of-16 shooting) off the bench, and Crawford chipped in 13 points.
Home improvement
The Clips' defense has turned a corner over the last month, and tonight was another example.
Since Dec. 1, the team ranks eighth in defensive efficiency, according to NBA.com/stats, which theoretically puts them in a mix as a contender (most champions have a top-10 offense and defense). Some of their recent competition is certainly a factor -- they've been playing lower-rung playoff contenders and lottery teams over most of that stretch -- but it seems as if the new pieces have finally acclimated and the team has grasped Lawrence Frank's conservative scheme.
The Clippers will never be an elite defensive team, but if they can grow into a good defensive unit, their elite offensive repertoire should be able to carry them.
The Clippers now have a few days off before traveling to Portland to face the Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
Follow Jovan on Twitter at @jovanbuha.
