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Detroit Clashes with Lob City

By J.M. Poulard

Mar 22, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and Detroit Pistons forward Josh Smith (6) go for a ball in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Clippers won 112-103. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and Detroit Pistons forward Josh Smith (6) go for a ball in the second half of the game at Staples Center. Clippers won 112-103. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Essentials

  • Teams: Los Angeles Clippers (8-5) at Detroit Pistons (3-11)
  • Date: November 26
  • Time: 7:30 p.m.
  • Television: FSD

Get in the Game

Be afraid of the Los Angeles Clippers.

With eight wins in their first 13 games, it feels a little bit like they’re underachieving, and there’s certainly some truth to that. The offense goes through lulls where players simply stop running the offense and attempt to beat defenders with one-on-one moves.

The Clippers will desperately push it in transition, even if the amount of defenders outnumber by far the offensive players running down the court, which leads at times to awful shots.

What’s more, Blake Griffin often plays like he has a score to settle against the opposing power forward, and that results in him forcing shots or bullying his way to the basket only to cough up the ball.

One might be tempted to think the Detroit Pistons, losers of five straight, will have a field day with these Clippers tonight, but that’s not exactly the case. All of the previously outlined issues for Los Angeles show up when the team is playing at its worse.

However, when the Clippers ramp things up and play to their talent, they might just be the best team in the league. Griffin and DeAndre Jordan is probably the best high-low combination in the league other than perhaps the Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

When Los Angeles gets rolling, it’s like an avalanche of dunks, layups and three-pointers. They get the ball swinging from one side to the next with quick-hitting handoffs and pick-and-rolls.

The interior players move in unison and confuse defensive rotations, which leads to alley-oops. Further exacerbating matters, the player lobbing the pass isn’t always the same one. It might be Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford or Griffin, which makes close outs a difficult proposition. Come out to contest a little too hard, and the ball-handler takes one hard dribble and throws the ball up near the rim for a spectacular catch and finish.

L.A. has shooters that give it the seventh-best three-point mark in the league to complement the interior game. It all makes for a combustible offense.

Still, what to make of the Clippers’ struggles heading tonight’s contest versus the Pistons?

Well, take a look at the losses:

  • November 2: Sacramento Kings
  • November 5: Golden State Warriors
  • November 10: San Antonio Spurs
  • November 17: Chicago Bulls
  • November 23: Memphis Grizzlies

Other than the Sacramento loss, every Clippers defeat has come against teams with a realistic shot of winning their respective conferences. Those squads have figured out ways to bring out the worst out of the Clips because they play great defense for the most part.

That won’t be the case tonight in Detroit. The Pistons aren’t sharp enough to consistently handle all of the smoke and mirrors that L.A. uses to get a variety of open looks.

It’s worth noting that the Clippers will play their fifth consecutive road game tonight, courtesy of a seven-game road trip. Perhaps the Pistons can pounce on a team that’s been away from home for a while.

That might keep the contest close, but then again, the Charlotte Hornets probably believed that two nights ago, and they were smoked at home by 21 points.

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