The Clippers' hopes for a championship are certainly looking promising, and I’m proud to officially announce the formation of the \"Clippers Offensive Battalion.\" In the regular season, it’s all about high-paced, offensive basketball, and when it’s crunch time, they ramp up the defensive intensity. While last season’s defensive lineup didn’t see much change—featuring players like Dunn, Small Jones, Harden股壹佰, Zubac, and Leonard—all of them are considered veterans at this stage.
展开剩余89%The core of the team shifted significantly with Powell leaving and in came some serious talent: Suns’ starting guard Beal, Bucks’ starting center Lopez, and Jazz’s starting power forward Collins. So, the big question is: can the Clippers make it to the top three in the Western Conference next season? Powell, who was the team’s weakest defender, is out, and in come Beal and Collins—but many are still worried about the team’s defense!
I wish I could find the team’s defensive efficiency chart, but alas, I can't. One more thing worth mentioning: Harden's defense isn’t bad; he just struggles against the quicker, smaller players! Collins isn’t the best one-on-one defender, but what the Clippers really need is his ability to help on the wing and cover large areas, something he’s quite good at.
Who would have thought that Beal, from the Suns, would suddenly be on the Clippers, and for only $11 million! It's such a great deal. Also, the young 2.08-meter tall Collins is joining to help Kawhi Leonard at the power forward spot. This move lets Kawhi return to his natural small forward position. With Beal now onboard, the Clippers are definitely winners this offseason! Beal’s arrival ensures that, at the very least, the team will make the playoffs next season. Though there are injury concerns, the starting lineup is strong enough to be competitive. Looking at it now股壹佰, the Clippers’ roster is starting to look pretty stacked!
The starting lineup could be something like Dunn, Beal, Collins, Zubac, with a solid bench of Bogdanovic, Dunn, Baynes, Small Jones, and Lopez. This setup offers a variety of possible combinations, both defensive and offensive. The team’s athleticism is solid, and as long as they avoid making mistakes and stay healthy, there’s a lot of potential here. This could be a last shot for these veterans.
If Paul joins the team, this lineup would be exactly what Leonard loves: 48 minutes of basketball with multiple ball handlers and playmakers. He could just take a backseat and manage the game. Leonard loves having guards who can handle the ball and shoot, and the \"passive playmaking\" role suits him perfectly—he can just talk strategy from the sidelines.
When Beal first entered the league as the third overall pick, he wasn’t exactly a household name. The Wizards weren’t a flashy team, and with a young star like John Wall on the roster, Beal was just another talented player. His role on the team wasn’t much different from others picked lower in the draft.
Beal’s development followed a traditional path for a shooting guard—off-ball shooting, defense, and overall scoring, similar to Ray Allen’s approach. For the first few years of his career, Beal focused on these areas, and for those questioning his defense, it’s time to put that to rest. Just like Leonard, who’s seen a dip in his defense after injuries, Beal still has solid defensive fundamentals. Additionally, his off-ball shooting has been a cornerstone of his game since college. No one should worry about his ability to hit mid-range and three-point shots. When he has the ball, he’s also capable of breaking down defenses, offering the Clippers a range of tactical options in half-court offense.
However, Beal's arrival doesn’t mean he fully replaces Powell. Powell was one of the few players on the Clippers last season capable of breaking down defenses and drawing fouls. Powell’s departure means the team loses some of that punch in the regular season, as Beal isn’t known for his attacking prowess. Leonard, too, has never been an elite rim attacker, and aside from Harden, the backcourt players lack explosive finishes. With Harden aging, the Clippers will need Collins to step up with his off-ball cuts and fast-break running. If Collins can maintain his strong post-three-threat ability, it would be even better. In the grand scheme, this is a real concern, but the tradeoff—Powell for Beal, and bringing in Collins—is a win. Of course, there will always be some flaws, but in a tax-free situation, this isn’t a huge deal.
Lastly, there’s something quite intriguing: if Paul ends up joining the team, the Clippers could have the most traditional, old-school roster in the league. With Paul (the classic point guard), Beal (the traditional shooting guard), Leonard (the traditional small forward), and Zubac (the traditional center), the Clippers would truly be a throwback to the past. In a league that’s evolved towards smaller, faster, more perimeter-based play, this would feel like a departure from the modern game, but in a nostalgic way. That’s something I’m really looking forward to—the chemistry these classic players could generate when playing together next season.
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