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Series Preview: Nuggets vs. Clippers

By Rex Foster

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket on Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Staples Center on February 28, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket on Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Staples Center on February 28, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 25: LA Clippers players huddle before the first half against the Dallas Mavericks in game five of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 25, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 25: LA Clippers players huddle before the first half against the Dallas Mavericks in game five of the first round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 25, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images) /

Clippers stats

So far this postseason, the Clippers lead all playoff teams in points per game (126.7). You wouldn’t have guessed it with the ridicule that George faced but Kawhi, whose 32.8 points per game ranks 1st among all players still in the playoffs, had a lot to do with LA’s offensive success.

That said, it wasn’t just him though. In their first round series against the Mavericks, 5 of 11 players in their regular rotation scored in double-figures: Kawhi, George, Zubac, Lou Williams and Marcus Morris. 5 more players averaged between 8.0 and 9.3 points per game: Jackson, Beverley, Harrell, Landry Shamet and Patrick Patterson.

Let’s face it: the Clippers are arguably the deepest team in the NBA.

Lou Will and Harrell were both 6th Man of the Year candidates, each averaging just above 18 points per game in the regular season.

Veterans in Morris and Jackson have been significant pieces since the Clippers acquired them both midseason. Morris — who was acquired at the trade deadline from the New York Knicks — is having a solid year, averaging 10.1 points per game while providing hard-nosed defense in the regular season.

Jackson — who was signed after reaching a buyout with the rebuilding Detroit Pistons — is the perfect guard to replace Beverley off the bench. A gritty, nimble, yet posed player who can slow down opposing guards on defense (especially on the fastbreak), Jackson can also contribute buckets on offense (something that Beverley struggles to provide).

When Clippers head coach Doc Rivers needs a scoring boost, or when shooting is in dire need of improvement, 3-point specialist Shamet is usually called upon to give the Clippers necessary spacing and buckets. Taking 5.6 3-point attempts per game, Shamet hit 37.5% of them in the regular season.

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