Lack of ball movement was def killing these guys. Russ deciding to come off the bench really helps to establish the 2 primary creators and kinda even out the offense.
Clips should move Harden to bench to further balance their offense. Just constantly press the opposing team so they can’t sit their better players for as long as they’d want
Hardin is selfish asf. You see it in how lazy he is on defense, or when he doesn't have the ball in his hands. The clippers are stupid to think Harden was the solution to their problems
Harden should come off the bench they were cooking early season. Let him come off get some assists with the 2nd team. Harden lead the league in assists last year.
This era of basketball we're in has really put a premium on coaching talent because of the importance of modern basketball strategy, teams with subpar coaching that don't implement said strategy like the clippers, last years 76ers or the pistons perform worse than expected almost exclusively because of coaching issues
The interesting thing is Lue is widely seen as a “great coach” when the talent masks the lack of strategy - he’s an assistant with Team USA and was lauded for being one for a reason. But I’ve just never seen it, even with the heliocentric Cavs teams, what he’s done to really show talent and deserve it. He’s… liked by his players. But what else?
Exactly bro. Lue is terrible man. He’s living off of reputation. He should have this team firing on all cylinders and they would be doing so if he implemented an offensive system that allowed the stars to mesh and build continuity.
It's more complicated than that. I remember the 2021 clipper with kawhi injured somehow won against Luka's Maverick and Donavon Mitchel Rudy Gobert Jazz and advanced to western conference final. Ty lue taking a no-kawhi (and pre-harden pre-westbrook, and without lue willian) clipper to conference final is pretty impressive.
@@kunalmishra9463agreed. Lue got his first head coach job because of LeBron who didn’t like David Blatt’s too European-like way of coaching and wanted to get a bro-coach who would listen to everything that Bron says. They fired Blatt when Cavs had the best record in the Conference (which is unheard of).
3 weeks later, they have been the absolute best team in the league. ngl, it's kinda unfair to judge this team immediately and not give them enough time to gel and get chemistry. The Ty Lue system works and it shows in their 9 game winning streak.
Since this video the clippers have gone on a 6 game win streak. Idk why people were so quick to write the team off but it was stupid to. Harden & the Clippers have been playing great.
I've said the same thing. There was a lot of hate and dunking on them after the trade because Harden didn't ball out on day one. But really, when you stop and consider they didn't get a summer training camp together, and Harden didn't get one at all, they're basically using the first half of the season to figure out roles and positions and what their good at etc. This team is not going to look the same at the end of April as it did on day one.
nope, 2017 they lost to the second seeded spurs, 2018 and 2019 harden played very well against the best team in league history, especially in 2019 as the 4th seed. 2020, russ had covid@@dusk6159
I feel like the current Suns are in a similar place. They spent all their resources getting 3 elite scorers and pretending that they can just have 3 balls to iso with at the same time and that they don't have to worry about any other aspect of basketball. Some of these super teams really seem like they were made by some kid on 2k who just put all their favorite players on the same team
But those three have had experience being elite role players and have shown to be naybe work The clippers don't Harden is too much and russ has being trying N the defense is way different
Booker, KD and Beal are a much better fit than Kawhi/PG/Harden/Westbrook. I know Beal hasn't shot the ball in the past few years, but he was also the #1 option on a bad team, so being a 3rd option should help his shot. Booker and KD are both fine off-the-ball, and it seems KD is happy to let Book run the show. In LA though, who's the best equipped to run the show? Harden should be the answer, but I just don't think letting your 3rd best guy run the entire offense is a good fit, and you are also just taking the ball out of Kawhi's and PG's hands. If it's 2017 Harden, then yes, but this is 2023 Harden now. And Russ is such a poor shooter that he's an off-ball liability. They seriously may not make the playoffs.
The 3 have not even played 1 regular season game together. Book and KD have only lost 1 game when they both played(lost to spurs and raptros but booker was playing injured against the raptors). They have other issues but I don’t think it stems with the main 3. Some possessions do get overly stagnant though especially if KD gets on the wing in a one on one but he makes it more often the not
@leungsz I say put Harden on the bench instead of russ They looked more of a coherent offense with russ b4 Harden and russ at least offball stuff now the defense is bout the same and russ rebounds HARD 1 reason paul george got his game winner 2nite It just the dumb plays both Harden n Russ make that the problem so staggering them is for the best
Yeah for real, this video saved the clipper season. They aren’t playing like this anymore. Now I only wish he would save Zion Williamson. Thinking basketball please save Zion Williamson. show him that teams form a wall against him, but if he played more like Michael Jordan and developed a mid range, he could take over the league. Hell, even a short midrange
Always love thinking back to the 2004 Finals between the Lakers with Kobe, Shaq, GP and Malone getting swept the MOST blue collar NBA champions ever, by a mile. Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace, Chauncy Billups and Rip Hamilton. Incredible group of guys with little to show for career accolades yet were completely dominant because they played outstanding team ball.
As a Laker fan I disliked that team _(the Lakers, not the Pistons; the Pistons were great)._ I know it's the Laker way to get mid- or late-career Hall-of-Fame players and just try to out-talent everyone, but I love a good homegrown team that plays together for years and has a solid identity. That Laker team was actually pretty good, though, not like these Clippers.
@@jgray2718 I wouldnt say the Pistons were homegrown, Ben Wallace arrived in 2000 in the Grant Hill trade and is the most "homegrown". Hamilton and Billups arrived in 2002 via trade (Stackhouse) and free agency and Rasheed only joined in 2004. Prince is the only guy they drafted and he had his coming out party locking down Tracy McGrady in games 5-6-7 to enable the comeback against the Magic (yes, that was in the same year, they nearly lost in the first round but after starting Prince in game 5 went on to win the championship). Still an awesome defensive juggernaut
@@WillyKillya we have low ceiling but are somehow 4th in net rtg, 7th in defense and 7th in offense for the season. we're even 2nd in offense and 7th in defense and 2nd in net rtg in the last 15 games. Ig our ceilings still low
Man, I really hope someone rescues PG from this team. Could still be beneficial if the Clipps get some shooters in return. There are just too many people that need the ball on that team. A selfmade issue that nearly every fan seemed to spot even before they traded for Harden, but somehow the clips front office/ Ballmer dont get it.
i believe the front office just wants to be on the news and have the team not disappear from the media. The harden trade dont make a sense with the composition of the team
@@dimedropperpod legit dude did his time in OKC to get a brokered deal to arrive back in LA where wanted to play and shit. If anything its the Clippers who gotta save themselves from PGs price tag and his injury history.
I'm a Clipper fan bro, i love PG but i hate how soft people are on stars. IT's disgusting. They're holding our frnachise hostage and just adding their friends to make up for the fact that they can't stay healthy@@t4d0W
Harden's inability to catch and shoot is legitimately baffling. It was kind of cute with the Rockets, when he'd pass up a catch and shoot and then make a Step back, but this isn't 2017 anymore. He needs to take these shots and work on his role for the benefit of the team, because the Clippers are screwed if they don't. They've gone from looking like the beneficiaries of a super trade for PG and Kawhi to clowns that gave away Shai and their future.
@@haroldjayledda5566but imagine if he shot more he’s consistently turning down multiple open catch and shoot shots a game just to produce something worse. With his shooting a wide open catch and shoot three is the best option they have he shouldn’t be looking for anything else when he’s left open
Ironically they would have been a lot better off just trading Mann and keeping Covington and Batum. They're a very undersized team now when before they had multiple playable wings who could make up for that. Also think they'll be better when Plumlee gets back since he's a lot better in the short roll situations you mentioned
I'd like to see them run two separate lineups. Harden and kawhi get a lineup, and russ and PG get a lineup. Play PG Kawhi and Harden 30 minutes a game. You always have top-level scoring on the floor, solve the one ball problem, and should keep the guys fresher by playing less minutes.
They have been doing more of this The issues are fixable imo. The most glaring one is not taking open threes. I think they are doing it for different reasons (eg Harden is simply uncomfortable with them, 213 maybe deferring and trying to take turns, and Mann simply in his own head) but this is starting to change. Harden is taking more of them recently.
do u even watch clippers ball? they are fucking playing harden and kawhi together, russ and pg together. the russ and pg lineup loses points every time
Harden has been letting those catch and shoots fly the past few games and it's helped a ton. He's really good at them too it makes no sense why he isn't comfortable shooting them
Not that he isn’t comfortable…… HE IS SELFISH, in doesn’t want his teammates to add assists off his open looks to have more total assists then him at the end of game!!! It’s obvious
Knowing Harden, it’s likely more to do with ego than ability. The dude could be a lethal catch and shoot guy or be a great 6th man for this team, but his ego won’t let him accept what he perceives as a “lesser role”
I wish this included some stats on the different offensive looks of the clippers. How good is Harden pick and roll compared to PG and Kawaii iso? How healthy is the Harden System?
This is why the Warriors were so unique and insane during that 2017-19 stretch, because all of the players could play-make, and they were pretty much a team of primary scorers (minus Dray, the generational defender and menace). However, if you were to make a big three super-team, you need two big time scorers, of which one would be willing to sacrifice for the other to play-make or spot up, and (at least) one defensive menace. This has worked really well in the past (Bulls 1996, Miami 2012, Celtics 2008, and more).
idk if the stats support this but I feel like harden dramatically slowed the pace aswell. In the half court, I like the pick and roll but not providing rim pressure like Russ was before the trade seems to make a dramatic difference.
In the modern NBA, role players are more important than ever given the fluidity of the game, the emphasis on versatility, and three point shooting being so important. The days of two or three great players getting you a chip are long over.
Having an ISO heavy team is one thing, but ISO heavy with your best player taking 15 shots? No way. When they move the ball you start to see it really working, but when they hesitate and let Russ or Harden get into ISO, it stagnates everything
@@marlock6573 not at all. he's not writing them off. he's saying they'll never win a championship with a roster like this and it's true. they might win this series against the Mavs (it's currently 1-0), but they're gonna be in tough vs OKC and there's no way they would top the Nuggets, assuming both make it to the WCF
Agree. The clippers team before the trade was balanced. They just needed a better center. But front office is simply too dumb, they gave up their 2 best role players and great defenders in batum and roco for another redundant ball handler that plays poor defense is useless offball.
I agree with everything u said except for them needing a better center. I think what they really needed was a PF that can hold his own against bigs, which would allow Tinkering Ty to use his small ball lineups more effectively.
@@GMQuay By being a redudant ball handler that plays poor defense and is useess offball. Almost exactly what the OP said. Clippers were better before him my guy
@@russellchung3119 Idk why people kept seeing the C as their problem position. Zubac is perfect for a team with 3 ball dominant guys. He sets solid screens, he rebounds and defends the paint. They have Mason Plumlee as a back-up and now Daniel Their as well. Very solid rotation. People just keep disrespecting Zubac.
How much better would they be if they just shot with confidence once they're open? I see all 4 of these guys pass on open shots by waiting for something (it's not clear what most of the time). I think Ty Lue is a great coach. I wonder what the adjustments will be off ball going forward
Posting any video talking about the clippers is dangerous. if you talk about them being good they lose the next game and if you criticize them they make some miraculous play and win the next game. pure whiplash
Ty Lue's offenses have NEVER featured cutting or motion PG and Kawhi are iso players while Harden isn't a spot-up shooter. Its ironic that Harden wanted to leave the best coach he's had since D'Antoni, just to go for another glorified legacy coach of Lebron's success
That's true until the beginning of this season. The first few games of the season with RoCo and Batum rather than a stagnant Harden and older PJ Tucker, the Clippers had a lot more cutting and slashing to the basket and was showing promise. Then, they just traded it away to get even more isolation ball, the thing they were trying to move away from
@@Thanosdidtherighthing. Facts man and some of these hypercritical takes from these people just typing on their phones/keyboards is insane. The audacity 😂
I think the best example of integrating a lot of offensive talent together was the earlier bird Celtics. You essentially had three high scoring bigs on the team but it just worked. It was hard to deal with the lakers super offense but the Celtics basically had 4 guys who could all play the same position but found ways to have a great offense none the less.
This team did better with Russ starting before Harden came along. Harden needs to take the ego hit and come off the bench to the tune of 25mins a game and also be the 3rd option behind PG and Kawhi. That duo can work really well together and PG has shown his playmaking abilities in these last couple years so I think the keys should go to him and have Russ, PG, Kawhi, Mann and Zu as their main lineup. Sure, the spacing goes a bit, but if they can put Russ in short roll situations it stops teams from loading up off of him and having Harden off the bench and being a 3rd option gives them (hopefully) more of a burst off the bench and a guy who can be the sole creator when PG and Kawhi hit the bench together.
@@jojoprocess2820 could easily put Powell in instead of Mann but Russ had good shooting splits to start the year and is still capable of putting together 15 a night. They can go small with Tucker at the 5 and go Harden Powell PG Kawhi Tucker if they want to or they can go Russ Powell PG Kawhi Zu and either involve Russ in the PnR or give him the playmaker role while running sets to get PG and Kawhi good shots and touches.
This gives me hope actually. Creating advantages and not capitalizing is a solvable problem as they get more comfortable. It would be way worse if they weren't generating advantages in the first place. They are 500 right now after 20 games, and the West is pretty open. I still think they have a chance to put it together and become a dangerous playoff team. They probably need one more forward to play well off the bench though.
@@jjab430cope harder little man. Even with Kawheelchair, nothing would have changed. They had a trash superteam, period. Just like the Suns. They traded their future for this lineup and this franchise will be trash for many years because of that stupid decision by Kawheelchair
There's a great video that pretty much shows that finding and nurturing good coaches is the next great market inefficiency to take advantage of after the 3 point revolution: ruclips.net/video/ZZqGO2kQ5Cw/видео.html
....while he plays footsies in the corner ... Cold but true. The problem is if players need the ball to be effective, it is not an easy transition to make if the team demands it. I also see some foundation issues, not looking up when dribbling results in missed opportunities, repeatedly. A lot of holes and problems but it's the NBA. These guys can adjust but again, the superteams don't always work. Good luck to the clippers.
Too early to say. We saw flashes of success with them winning 4 straight games but also the 5 game losing streak early on did have a significant impact
Now they are on 7 game winning streak. You present yourself as a "professional" and "knowledgeable" in social media, which seems to be working for masses, you may even sell your patreon program for some kids. But not giving this team an adjustment period more than ~10 games really speaks volumes for your lack of understanding in professional sports and how much there really is different pieces and obstacles in team sports. And if I had to guess, you haven't studied the theory of coaching, or even better, you haven't coahced a professional team ever in your life, but ofcourse you know better from your home sofa than Tyron Lue...
The so-called "professionals" on ESPN were saying that Kawhi should retire and that Harden was going to be playing in China next year, so I can't really get upset at RUclipsrs for having bad takes.
This comment, reaction and bile are wild. There must be a grudge with Ben's quality and success. Especially considering how the Clippers, in the Playoffs, won't win in the end.
@@dusk6159 Strange layout in your comment, if you have something to notify me answer to me directly. Why wouldn't I comment on his dreadful takes. He's a cognitive scientist, he absolutely should know better the obstacles there are in team building situations. What I'm implying he's jumping on the Clippers hate wagon for clicks, which isn't the professional approach he's trying to declare himself in this NBA segment. But I understand sports are interesting industry, it's so out there that everyone you included think they have some knowledge about the X&Os, but the reality is different.
Some aging superstars have a 2nd peak to their game. Sadly for the Clippers PG and Kawhi hitting their 30s has been a debuff in terms of their ability to stay healthy. For Russ and Harden, they are pretty much the same type of player in their 30s as they were in their peak but with diminished athleticism. Reminds me of Carmelo where it took him 2 seasons away from the Knicks to realize his ISO days are over and he's more efficient to winning teams as a catch and shoot guy.
@@akirosakuragi9279 Sorry, what conclusions have I drawn other than the fact that he was wrong, which he was? Hard on reading comprehension? Embarrassing.
I'm a kawhi fan and a an openly harden hater, and even I understood this was going to take time. So many people ready to bury the clippers in December lol. Thinking basketball my ass.
Honestly, I think they will figure it out. All these guys have the motivation to win the ring. They are still in that phase of trying to figure each other out and not one of them is trying to take the next step up. Russ took a step back to make this job easier for the big 3 but they just have to make the magic on the court.
It’s tough because like he says the star players aren’t additive. They don’t make eachother better. And the irony of the situation is they got Harden because they didn’t think they could rely on PG and Kawhi staying healthy.
There is an element of diminishing returns with "superteams" constructed on the fly as we see with the Clippers. There's only so much you can do with players who have spent limited time together and are not as willing to shift roles after operating in a particular one for so long. Plus, they are all slightly worse than in years past now that they are creeping into their mid-thirties. It's tough to envision them becoming anything more than a solid basketball team.
People were WAY to harsh on the clippers after this trade, as of watching this video on 12/17/2023 they sit 15-10 6th in the west ahead of NOLA and the Lakers, and 1/2 game behind the Kings for 5th.
The issue completing an advantage is in the mind of the player executing; none of them is used to be a secondary player and make secondary player decision (skip pass, instant 3-pt etc). That's the issue of this specific group of all nbas
Kawhi is one of the most dangerous iso player in the history of the game. Most of the shots he's been missing are shots he makes 9 times out of 10. Honestly the problem was that kawhi early on wasn't being quick and decisive enough especially in the post. They've always been an iso team but ty lue one of the best coaches itl so he always comes up with adjustments. They'll be alright offensively cuz later in the szn and playoffs when kawhi's touches increase they will be dangerous. Biggest problem is their defense rn.
I like that you show makes off bad plays too. It’s a great representation of the game, in that just because you made it doesn’t mean it was a good shot
You make a lot of great points. Great video once again! What do you think if the Clippers ran more PnR action with their best players (ex: Harden-Kawhi PnR / Russ-PG PnR), and not with Harden and Zubac? That way they can stagger Harden and Russ, which they realized is for the best it could create more opportunities for their best players. You can argue that Steph and KD should have more PnR when they were playing together. Sometimes a big wing in ball screen action is pretty dangerous still. That being said, the clippers need to move without the ball more and that would fix a lot of their problems as well. Doesn't seem like a lot of intelligent cutting.
it's a great video. thanks for putting this together. i am left wondering something though. it seemed like this video skirted around the suggestion of Harden being a catch and shoot 3 player, spotting up around the line and spacing the floor. you said in the video that defenses feel like they dont need to guard him, and that his catch and shoot % was only slightly higher than his off-dribble one. but isnt harden's off dribble one pretty good? like wouldnt his catch and shoot accuracy from down town be good enough to warrant him playing that way? i was left wondering that by this video. i think you certainly have many of the other issues you mentioned in the video, like feeling like paying a lot for him to do nothing, but putting harden there, to me at least, feels like you're sacrificing the least because it capitalizes on what is probably the best part remaining of the aging talent of him, and maximizing the talent in PG and Kawhi who are still relatively effective compared to their peaks as players with on-ball opportunities
He can still play catch-and-shoot, but (a) he has to shoot them (b) he's off-ball game isn't very potent anyway and (c) you lose the value he'd get on-ball. So yes, it's pretty good, but I'm not sure it's *great* option.
This is a big problem with youtube sports media and analysts, since you have to keep your channel constantly on peoples faces so you'll get paid, there's no time for natural development on things, so everything seems like the end of the world, or you guys make it out to be, when in reality, 9 out of 10 times is just an overreaction, the Timberwolves last season and this season is also a perfect example.
Lack of ball movement was def killing these guys. Russ deciding to come off the bench really helps to establish the 2 primary creators and kinda even out the offense.
Clips should move Harden to bench to further balance their offense. Just constantly press the opposing team so they can’t sit their better players for as long as they’d want
Hardin is selfish asf. You see it in how lazy he is on defense, or when he doesn't have the ball in his hands. The clippers are stupid to think Harden was the solution to their problems
Harden should come off the bench they were cooking early season. Let him come off get some assists with the 2nd team. Harden lead the league in assists last year.
@@bilboswaggens2975they were not cooking
@@bilboswaggens2975and Westbrook is the worse player there’s a reason he’s on the bench
This era of basketball we're in has really put a premium on coaching talent because of the importance of modern basketball strategy, teams with subpar coaching that don't implement said strategy like the clippers, last years 76ers or the pistons perform worse than expected almost exclusively because of coaching issues
The interesting thing is Lue is widely seen as a “great coach” when the talent masks the lack of strategy - he’s an assistant with Team USA and was lauded for being one for a reason. But I’ve just never seen it, even with the heliocentric Cavs teams, what he’s done to really show talent and deserve it. He’s… liked by his players. But what else?
Exactly bro. Lue is terrible man. He’s living off of reputation. He should have this team firing on all cylinders and they would be doing so if he implemented an offensive system that allowed the stars to mesh and build continuity.
It's more complicated than that. I remember the 2021 clipper with kawhi injured somehow won against Luka's Maverick and Donavon Mitchel Rudy Gobert Jazz and advanced to western conference final. Ty lue taking a no-kawhi (and pre-harden pre-westbrook, and without lue willian) clipper to conference final is pretty impressive.
@@bohanxu6125 that was a talented roster bro. We were down 2-0 in both of the first 2 series. Sometimes Lue takes too long to adjust.
@@kunalmishra9463agreed. Lue got his first head coach job because of LeBron who didn’t like David Blatt’s too European-like way of coaching and wanted to get a bro-coach who would listen to everything that Bron says. They fired Blatt when Cavs had the best record in the Conference (which is unheard of).
3 weeks later, they have been the absolute best team in the league. ngl, it's kinda unfair to judge this team immediately and not give them enough time to gel and get chemistry. The Ty Lue system works and it shows in their 9 game winning streak.
Since this video the clippers have gone on a 6 game win streak. Idk why people were so quick to write the team off but it was stupid to. Harden & the Clippers have been playing great.
He said near the end he thinks they will improve, but especially since they are all getting older they still have a low ceiling
I've said the same thing.
There was a lot of hate and dunking on them after the trade because Harden didn't ball out on day one.
But really, when you stop and consider they didn't get a summer training camp together, and Harden didn't get one at all, they're basically using the first half of the season to figure out roles and positions and what their good at etc.
This team is not going to look the same at the end of April as it did on day one.
it's even better now
Still waiting for the apology video as Harden continues his Problem Tour
Before having problems in the Playoffs and seeing his system malfunction like always, even in his very prime in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
nope, 2017 they lost to the second seeded spurs, 2018 and 2019 harden played very well against the best team in league history, especially in 2019 as the 4th seed. 2020, russ had covid@@dusk6159
He apologised on the podcast
The Clippers blew up in the Playoffs and the Mavs went over them
@allenross3050Ben was right about everything, clowns like you were wrong.
Paul George hit a game winner moments before this video was published lmao
Great timing irrelevant non the less
That team isn't winning a championship.
cool still barely a playin team
Even a broken clock is right twice a day, this team is still not a contender with their current roster
That’s….irrelevant asf lol
I feel like the current Suns are in a similar place. They spent all their resources getting 3 elite scorers and pretending that they can just have 3 balls to iso with at the same time and that they don't have to worry about any other aspect of basketball. Some of these super teams really seem like they were made by some kid on 2k who just put all their favorite players on the same team
But those three have had experience being elite role players and have shown to be naybe work
The clippers don't
Harden is too much and russ has being trying
N the defense is way different
Booker, KD and Beal are a much better fit than Kawhi/PG/Harden/Westbrook. I know Beal hasn't shot the ball in the past few years, but he was also the #1 option on a bad team, so being a 3rd option should help his shot. Booker and KD are both fine off-the-ball, and it seems KD is happy to let Book run the show. In LA though, who's the best equipped to run the show? Harden should be the answer, but I just don't think letting your 3rd best guy run the entire offense is a good fit, and you are also just taking the ball out of Kawhi's and PG's hands. If it's 2017 Harden, then yes, but this is 2023 Harden now. And Russ is such a poor shooter that he's an off-ball liability. They seriously may not make the playoffs.
The 3 have not even played 1 regular season game together. Book and KD have only lost 1 game when they both played(lost to spurs and raptros but booker was playing injured against the raptors). They have other issues but I don’t think it stems with the main 3. Some possessions do get overly stagnant though especially if KD gets on the wing in a one on one but he makes it more often the not
@leungsz I say put Harden on the bench instead of russ
They looked more of a coherent offense with russ b4 Harden and russ at least offball stuff now the defense is bout the same and russ rebounds HARD
1 reason paul george got his game winner 2nite
It just the dumb plays both Harden n Russ make that the problem so staggering them is for the best
im still not sure why the brooklyn nets superteam with KD/kyrie/harding worked as well as it did...too bad for injuries
9-0 since this video was released.
🥱
Yeah for real, this video saved the clipper season. They aren’t playing like this anymore. Now I only wish he would save Zion Williamson. Thinking basketball please save Zion Williamson. show him that teams form a wall against him, but if he played more like Michael Jordan and developed a mid range, he could take over the league. Hell, even a short midrange
update: 14-2 since this video was released
Update 17-3 since this video was released
@dekumidoriya6365 Im on your side lmao
They are now 9-3 in the last 12
Always love thinking back to the 2004 Finals between the Lakers with Kobe, Shaq, GP and Malone getting swept the MOST blue collar NBA champions ever, by a mile. Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace, Chauncy Billups and Rip Hamilton. Incredible group of guys with little to show for career accolades yet were completely dominant because they played outstanding team ball.
malone wasn't in those finals games
Malone injured unfortunately... Horry had a horrible shooting series
One thing's certain is that the Lakers didn't get swept by Pistons, it was 4-1.
As a Laker fan I disliked that team _(the Lakers, not the Pistons; the Pistons were great)._ I know it's the Laker way to get mid- or late-career Hall-of-Fame players and just try to out-talent everyone, but I love a good homegrown team that plays together for years and has a solid identity. That Laker team was actually pretty good, though, not like these Clippers.
@@jgray2718 I wouldnt say the Pistons were homegrown, Ben Wallace arrived in 2000 in the Grant Hill trade and is the most "homegrown". Hamilton and Billups arrived in 2002 via trade (Stackhouse) and free agency and Rasheed only joined in 2004. Prince is the only guy they drafted and he had his coming out party locking down Tracy McGrady in games 5-6-7 to enable the comeback against the Magic (yes, that was in the same year, they nearly lost in the first round but after starting Prince in game 5 went on to win the championship). Still an awesome defensive juggernaut
Might want to make an updated version
Agreed!
Milking the views 1st
You need to update this. Them boys are ballin.
New video on "the clippers super team is working"?
5 game win streak after this video was posted and 10-3 in their last 13 games 😹😹😹
He said near the end he thinks they will improve, but especially since they are all getting older they still have a low ceiling
Make that 7
8
@@WillyKillya we have low ceiling but are somehow 4th in net rtg, 7th in defense and 7th in offense for the season. we're even 2nd in offense and 7th in defense and 2nd in net rtg in the last 15 games. Ig our ceilings still low
@@朱俊曉-z8t wasn't my take, just passed along what the dude said in the video
Man, I really hope someone rescues PG from this team. Could still be beneficial if the Clipps get some shooters in return. There are just too many people that need the ball on that team.
A selfmade issue that nearly every fan seemed to spot even before they traded for Harden, but somehow the clips front office/ Ballmer dont get it.
i believe the front office just wants to be on the news and have the team not disappear from the media. The harden trade dont make a sense with the composition of the team
"Who are they gonna guard?"- PG
Rescues????? From a franchise where he’s gotten what ever he wants????
@@dimedropperpod legit dude did his time in OKC to get a brokered deal to arrive back in LA where wanted to play and shit. If anything its the Clippers who gotta save themselves from PGs price tag and his injury history.
I'm a Clipper fan bro, i love PG but i hate how soft people are on stars. IT's disgusting. They're holding our frnachise hostage and just adding their friends to make up for the fact that they can't stay healthy@@t4d0W
Harden's inability to catch and shoot is legitimately baffling. It was kind of cute with the Rockets, when he'd pass up a catch and shoot and then make a Step back, but this isn't 2017 anymore. He needs to take these shots and work on his role for the benefit of the team, because the Clippers are screwed if they don't. They've gone from looking like the beneficiaries of a super trade for PG and Kawhi to clowns that gave away Shai and their future.
I'd say it's more unwillingness rather than inability. I watched some highlights recently and he does ok catch and shoot taking passes from PG
lol harden is 50% on a catch n shoot 3s
He is shooting 40% from 3, are you even watching?
@@haroldjayledda5566but imagine if he shot more he’s consistently turning down multiple open catch and shoot shots a game just to produce something worse. With his shooting a wide open catch and shoot three is the best option they have he shouldn’t be looking for anything else when he’s left open
He's catching and shooting more with the Clippers than he has in his career.
Ironically they would have been a lot better off just trading Mann and keeping Covington and Batum. They're a very undersized team now when before they had multiple playable wings who could make up for that. Also think they'll be better when Plumlee gets back since he's a lot better in the short roll situations you mentioned
No bad idea without harden depending on kawhi big numbers leads injury.
Their starting lineup is top 3 in the league once Mann was back from injury
I'd like to see them run two separate lineups. Harden and kawhi get a lineup, and russ and PG get a lineup. Play PG Kawhi and Harden 30 minutes a game. You always have top-level scoring on the floor, solve the one ball problem, and should keep the guys fresher by playing less minutes.
They have been doing more of this
The issues are fixable imo. The most glaring one is not taking open threes. I think they are doing it for different reasons (eg Harden is simply uncomfortable with them, 213 maybe deferring and trying to take turns, and Mann simply in his own head) but this is starting to change. Harden is taking more of them recently.
Playing harden for 30 mins in 2023🤣🤣this is why you’re just a fan
You saying he deserves more????? @@Supermoneygang12
do u even watch clippers ball? they are fucking playing harden and kawhi together, russ and pg together. the russ and pg lineup loses points every time
@@Supermoneygang12 this aged like milk LMFAOOOOOOOO here comes the "watch the playoffs" excuses from da casual
Harden has been letting those catch and shoots fly the past few games and it's helped a ton. He's really good at them too it makes no sense why he isn't comfortable shooting them
Not that he isn’t comfortable…… HE IS SELFISH, in doesn’t want his teammates to add assists off his open looks to have more total assists then him at the end of game!!! It’s obvious
@@PhilPopovichlol what a dumb take 😂😂😂
Knowing Harden, it’s likely more to do with ego than ability. The dude could be a lethal catch and shoot guy or be a great 6th man for this team, but his ego won’t let him accept what he perceives as a “lesser role”
@@Cynsham12 assists yesterday, so selfish
damn so selfish, averaging 10 assists@@PhilPopovich
I wish this included some stats on the different offensive looks of the clippers. How good is Harden pick and roll compared to PG and Kawaii iso? How healthy is the Harden System?
2 weeks later and I can confidently say that the harden system is doing just fine lol
This is why the Warriors were so unique and insane during that 2017-19 stretch, because all of the players could play-make, and they were pretty much a team of primary scorers (minus Dray, the generational defender and menace).
However, if you were to make a big three super-team, you need two big time scorers, of which one would be willing to sacrifice for the other to play-make or spot up, and (at least) one defensive menace. This has worked really well in the past (Bulls 1996, Miami 2012, Celtics 2008, and more).
idk if the stats support this but I feel like harden dramatically slowed the pace aswell. In the half court, I like the pick and roll but not providing rim pressure like Russ was before the trade seems to make a dramatic difference.
Right on the money analysis
Yup harden hAS pretty much always been a more methodical half court player ideally this would work for the clippers with how old they are
My hottest take is that the Clippers would be better if they cut Harden from the team, my takes are usually not that spicy but I feel it in my bones.
worst take ive ever seen@@Paloriel
@@Paloriel get ya bones checked
This type of take is no better than what ESPN puts out.
They’re gonna lose to the Mavericks in the first round.
You're worse than ESPN, the Mavs got the choking Clippers out
@@dusk6159 no kawhi bud
@@ganeshs8522 Kawhi is NEVER on the floor. RIP the Clippers that didn't work at all
@@ganeshs8522and? That's the best excuse you got? Cope harder😂
In the modern NBA, role players are more important than ever given the fluidity of the game, the emphasis on versatility, and three point shooting being so important. The days of two or three great players getting you a chip are long over.
yeah, but the clippers role players are good. zubac, t mann, norm powell, plumlee, coffey, russ
You guys were too eager to release this garbage. You need to come out and admit that you were wrong. That's what a fair analyst does.
Out in the first round. Hello?
@@Felipe-yv4bcinjuries happened kawhi can’t stay healthy
@@LTay12Classic excuse, keep coping lil boy
Having an ISO heavy team is one thing, but ISO heavy with your best player taking 15 shots? No way. When they move the ball you start to see it really working, but when they hesitate and let Russ or Harden get into ISO, it stagnates everything
EYOOOO where's the follow up of I jumped to conclusions after 5 games?
Can we get an updated take on the Clippers? 🌝
No
Clippers on a 6 game winstreak since this vid haha 😂
8
9
Trying to write a team off in late November is amazing, even for today's hot take culture.
@@marlock6573 Yeah this really was the dumbest take this channel has had in a long ass while.
@@marlock6573 not at all. he's not writing them off. he's saying they'll never win a championship with a roster like this and it's true. they might win this series against the Mavs (it's currently 1-0), but they're gonna be in tough vs OKC and there's no way they would top the Nuggets, assuming both make it to the WCF
Love your videos. Listened all the time at work
And podcast*
Agree. The clippers team before the trade was balanced. They just needed a better center. But front office is simply too dumb, they gave up their 2 best role players and great defenders in batum and roco for another redundant ball handler that plays poor defense is useless offball.
I agree with everything u said except for them needing a better center. I think what they really needed was a PF that can hold his own against bigs, which would allow Tinkering Ty to use his small ball lineups more effectively.
Harden raises their ceiling bro.
@@GMQuay By being a redudant ball handler that plays poor defense and is useess offball. Almost exactly what the OP said. Clippers were better before him my guy
@@jordancromwell they weren’t moving off the ball before him lol , I’m telling you it’s scheme issues.
@@russellchung3119 Idk why people kept seeing the C as their problem position. Zubac is perfect for a team with 3 ball dominant guys. He sets solid screens, he rebounds and defends the paint. They have Mason Plumlee as a back-up and now Daniel Their as well. Very solid rotation. People just keep disrespecting Zubac.
This needs to be updated. 9 game winning streak as we speak.
Never has a video aged worse lmao
Luka cooking CP, Booker and the Suns
Never seen a comment age worse lmao
How much better would they be if they just shot with confidence once they're open? I see all 4 of these guys pass on open shots by waiting for something (it's not clear what most of the time).
I think Ty Lue is a great coach. I wonder what the adjustments will be off ball going forward
Seems like they should run some kind of triangle offense, keeps their big 3 in motion and puts pressure on the defense to keep up.
This didn't age well.
He did say he believes that they’ll get better with time and time has passed
@@onemanavenger6616 better with time? Broski they were already winning when he posted this.
This comment didn't age well.
@@Deathraze1 Kawhi's knees didn't age well.
Update?
So when are you gonna make the new version of this?
Lol
Posting any video talking about the clippers is dangerous. if you talk about them being good they lose the next game and if you criticize them they make some miraculous play and win the next game. pure whiplash
Literally just happened today 😂. PG bomb against the Warriors with 9 seconds on the clock.
L
happening every day now!@@russellchung3119
@@moogerchee2287 trash ass laker team 10th seed lil bro, enjoy wathcing lebron leave next year btw LMAO, you probs just a bandwagon fan anyway huh?
You fake analyst, clippers are 14-2 in their last 16 games now 😂😂😂.
Casuals like you won't understand his foresight. Cope with the lose. Kawheelchair was in a wheelchair as usual
They’re quite working now Ben. 😅🤣
Nope they are not
Definition of a knee-jerk video when you could've just let the whole season play out.
Might’ve dropped this one too early bud
Nope, he was just on time. Predicted the future
Ty Lue's offenses have NEVER featured cutting or motion
PG and Kawhi are iso players while Harden isn't a spot-up shooter.
Its ironic that Harden wanted to leave the best coach he's had since D'Antoni, just to go for another glorified legacy coach of Lebron's success
That's true until the beginning of this season. The first few games of the season with RoCo and Batum rather than a stagnant Harden and older PJ Tucker, the Clippers had a lot more cutting and slashing to the basket and was showing promise. Then, they just traded it away to get even more isolation ball, the thing they were trying to move away from
Tyron Lue without Kawhi Leonard coached the Clippers to the conference Finals….. don’t be delusional
@@russellchung3119i love it
Look at the superstar players he has had to coached. Why use those when teams, iso wise, can't stop your all-star players.
@@Thanosdidtherighthing. Facts man and some of these hypercritical takes from these people just typing on their phones/keyboards is insane. The audacity 😂
I’ll be honest.
This offense looks disgusting 🤢
As a Nuggets fan - it's absolutely soulless basketball. Just literally my-turn-your-turn, no movement, no real interesting wrinkles. Nothing.
hi@@Sean.Cordes
"And when nothing does, he throws a hot potato to Westbrook who's open for a reason"
- That joke floored me well written video
clippers on an 8 game winning streak since this video was uploaded
I think the best example of integrating a lot of offensive talent together was the earlier bird Celtics. You essentially had three high scoring bigs on the team but it just worked. It was hard to deal with the lakers super offense but the Celtics basically had 4 guys who could all play the same position but found ways to have a great offense none the less.
Harden by eye test makes the offense more "static", and every team is playing "motion" offense now.
if the clippers have a athletic Center, harden can easily make an alleyhoop play w a 2man pick n roll
ok bro
This team did better with Russ starting before Harden came along. Harden needs to take the ego hit and come off the bench to the tune of 25mins a game and also be the 3rd option behind PG and Kawhi. That duo can work really well together and PG has shown his playmaking abilities in these last couple years so I think the keys should go to him and have Russ, PG, Kawhi, Mann and Zu as their main lineup. Sure, the spacing goes a bit, but if they can put Russ in short roll situations it stops teams from loading up off of him and having Harden off the bench and being a 3rd option gives them (hopefully) more of a burst off the bench and a guy who can be the sole creator when PG and Kawhi hit the bench together.
1000% agree.
Let’s be real here Harden and Westbrook aren’t on OKC anymore lol I’d rather have good rookie talent at this point
Just horrible take. Russ was shooting 40% fron 3 and beat no1. Drop was coming. Harden is russ replacement
Yes surround PG and kawhi with 3 non shooters that'll worn great
@@jojoprocess2820 could easily put Powell in instead of Mann but Russ had good shooting splits to start the year and is still capable of putting together 15 a night. They can go small with Tucker at the 5 and go Harden Powell PG Kawhi Tucker if they want to or they can go Russ Powell PG Kawhi Zu and either involve Russ in the PnR or give him the playmaker role while running sets to get PG and Kawhi good shots and touches.
Aged really well
You bet
This gives me hope actually. Creating advantages and not capitalizing is a solvable problem as they get more comfortable. It would be way worse if they weren't generating advantages in the first place. They are 500 right now after 20 games, and the West is pretty open. I still think they have a chance to put it together and become a dangerous playoff team. They probably need one more forward to play well off the bench though.
aged perfectly
Because Kawhi got injured again? PG, Kawhi, and Harden had a 124 ORtg on the court together over the full season.
@@jjab430 proved my point. Can’t stay healthy = fall apart
@@jjab430cope harder little man. Even with Kawheelchair, nothing would have changed. They had a trash superteam, period. Just like the Suns. They traded their future for this lineup and this franchise will be trash for many years because of that stupid decision by Kawheelchair
@@galaxybacon4879health is the biggest excuse of every loser ever.
And the same LA quartet came back from a 22 pt deficit against GSW tonight 12/2 . This Vid still will age well
CRAZY TIMING
just playing a game of "my turn to bail the team out"
Clippers slowly but surely IMPROVE their CHEMISTRY & 6 W STRAIGHT NOW
Why are your videos sooo good. Such detail, in so many clips. . . great work 👏🏽
This aged well 😂
Yep it did but your comment didn't
The 2004 Lakers wasn't a SuperTeam. It was still just Shaq & Kobe with 2 Name Brand Role players.
Pierce-KG-Allen was a low profile SuperTeam.
who else came back here after the clippers winstreak 😂
“….Westbrook, who’s open for a reason” lol
Basketball strategy has gained so much depth in the last 10 years and the biggest problem is that coaches aren't allowed to coach in all seriousness.
There's a great video that pretty much shows that finding and nurturing good coaches is the next great market inefficiency to take advantage of after the 3 point revolution: ruclips.net/video/ZZqGO2kQ5Cw/видео.html
....while he plays footsies in the corner ... Cold but true. The problem is if players need the ball to be effective, it is not an easy transition to make if the team demands it. I also see some foundation issues, not looking up when dribbling results in missed opportunities, repeatedly. A lot of holes and problems but it's the NBA. These guys can adjust but again, the superteams don't always work. Good luck to the clippers.
Apology video with tears now!!!!
You first
@@akirosakuragi9279 tbf kawhi just got injured, the team was very good
Too early to say. We saw flashes of success with them winning 4 straight games but also the 5 game losing streak early on did have a significant impact
Now they are on 7 game winning streak. You present yourself as a "professional" and "knowledgeable" in social media, which seems to be working for masses, you may even sell your patreon program for some kids.
But not giving this team an adjustment period more than ~10 games really speaks volumes for your lack of understanding in professional sports and how much there really is different pieces and obstacles in team sports.
And if I had to guess, you haven't studied the theory of coaching, or even better, you haven't coahced a professional team ever in your life, but ofcourse you know better from your home sofa than Tyron Lue...
The so-called "professionals" on ESPN were saying that Kawhi should retire and that Harden was going to be playing in China next year, so I can't really get upset at RUclipsrs for having bad takes.
This comment, reaction and bile are wild. There must be a grudge with Ben's quality and success.
Especially considering how the Clippers, in the Playoffs, won't win in the end.
@@dusk6159 Strange layout in your comment, if you have something to notify me answer to me directly.
Why wouldn't I comment on his dreadful takes. He's a cognitive scientist, he absolutely should know better the obstacles there are in team building situations. What I'm implying he's jumping on the Clippers hate wagon for clicks, which isn't the professional approach he's trying to declare himself in this NBA segment.
But I understand sports are interesting industry, it's so out there that everyone you included think they have some knowledge about the X&Os, but the reality is different.
@@marlock6573They were correct, casuals like y'all in the comments have 0 insight into things
@@teemulehtonen5106He did know better than any of you sheep casuals who can only repeat stuff they hear and have 0 ability to analyze and predict.
Aging superstars are always overvalued. A player’s best year, on average, is when they’re 27/28.
Some aging superstars have a 2nd peak to their game. Sadly for the Clippers PG and Kawhi hitting their 30s has been a debuff in terms of their ability to stay healthy. For Russ and Harden, they are pretty much the same type of player in their 30s as they were in their peak but with diminished athleticism. Reminds me of Carmelo where it took him 2 seasons away from the Knicks to realize his ISO days are over and he's more efficient to winning teams as a catch and shoot guy.
Damn, exposed within the fortnight. Not very bright to make such a grand thesis based on a small sample size of games eh Ben?
He hates Harden
@allenross3050woke casual.
And you must be every bright yourself, making hasty conclusions after they won some games. Bird brain
@@akirosakuragi9279 Sorry, what conclusions have I drawn other than the fact that he was wrong, which he was? Hard on reading comprehension? Embarrassing.
The footage of them having WIDE open shots and just waiting for the defense to recover so they can work the iso are wild.
SCARY HOURS BOY
I feel like they should be suitors for Poeltl if possible. A good rim protector who can pass well in the short roll and finish would suit Harden more
I'm a kawhi fan and a an openly harden hater, and even I understood this was going to take time. So many people ready to bury the clippers in December lol. Thinking basketball my ass.
@allenross3050Harden fan? Sad
Kawheelchair buried them single handedly, Harden was surprisingly ok
Damn why tf did Kawhi leave Toronto in hindsight, because I remember that squad playing great team ball while still having motion offense
aged like milk
Aged like🍷
Ty lou is from the doc rivers school of offense which is to say he doesn't call anything. It's basically just "get the ball to the good player"
Honestly, I think they will figure it out. All these guys have the motivation to win the ring. They are still in that phase of trying to figure each other out and not one of them is trying to take the next step up. Russ took a step back to make this job easier for the big 3 but they just have to make the magic on the court.
It’s tough because like he says the star players aren’t additive. They don’t make eachother better. And the irony of the situation is they got Harden because they didn’t think they could rely on PG and Kawhi staying healthy.
pretty sure pg and/or kawhi will get injured sometime this season. Its better to be safe than sorry.
sorry but they are additive
Aged like milk :)
More like fine wine
There is an element of diminishing returns with "superteams" constructed on the fly as we see with the Clippers. There's only so much you can do with players who have spent limited time together and are not as willing to shift roles after operating in a particular one for so long. Plus, they are all slightly worse than in years past now that they are creeping into their mid-thirties.
It's tough to envision them becoming anything more than a solid basketball team.
yeah they suck
“Don’t work”
People were WAY to harsh on the clippers after this trade, as of watching this video on 12/17/2023 they sit 15-10 6th in the west ahead of NOLA and the Lakers, and 1/2 game behind the Kings for 5th.
7-0 since this video lol
The ending of this video really reminded me of a radio show called "Under the Influence" by Terry O'Reilly.
Not too late to delete this 😮💨
Touche
The issue completing an advantage is in the mind of the player executing; none of them is used to be a secondary player and make secondary player decision (skip pass, instant 3-pt etc). That's the issue of this specific group of all nbas
its working now
Nah it was an illusion of success to fool casuals like you
Kawhi is one of the most dangerous iso player in the history of the game. Most of the shots he's been missing are shots he makes 9 times out of 10. Honestly the problem was that kawhi early on wasn't being quick and decisive enough especially in the post. They've always been an iso team but ty lue one of the best coaches itl so he always comes up with adjustments. They'll be alright offensively cuz later in the szn and playoffs when kawhi's touches increase they will be dangerous. Biggest problem is their defense rn.
And that elite shooter thats good even with close outs you talking ab, they just gave him away for no reason. Eric gordan...
Love the channel, but this aged poorly very quickly
Are you sure little boy?
I like that you show makes off bad plays too. It’s a great representation of the game, in that just because you made it doesn’t mean it was a good shot
any updates on the clippers brosky?
You make a lot of great points. Great video once again!
What do you think if the Clippers ran more PnR action with their best players (ex: Harden-Kawhi PnR / Russ-PG PnR), and not with Harden and Zubac? That way they can stagger Harden and Russ, which they realized is for the best it could create more opportunities for their best players. You can argue that Steph and KD should have more PnR when they were playing together. Sometimes a big wing in ball screen action is pretty dangerous still.
That being said, the clippers need to move without the ball more and that would fix a lot of their problems as well. Doesn't seem like a lot of intelligent cutting.
You spoke about this waaaay too early.
No, he predicted their downfall
it's a great video. thanks for putting this together. i am left wondering something though. it seemed like this video skirted around the suggestion of Harden being a catch and shoot 3 player, spotting up around the line and spacing the floor. you said in the video that defenses feel like they dont need to guard him, and that his catch and shoot % was only slightly higher than his off-dribble one. but isnt harden's off dribble one pretty good? like wouldnt his catch and shoot accuracy from down town be good enough to warrant him playing that way? i was left wondering that by this video.
i think you certainly have many of the other issues you mentioned in the video, like feeling like paying a lot for him to do nothing, but putting harden there, to me at least, feels like you're sacrificing the least because it capitalizes on what is probably the best part remaining of the aging talent of him, and maximizing the talent in PG and Kawhi who are still relatively effective compared to their peaks as players with on-ball opportunities
He can still play catch-and-shoot, but (a) he has to shoot them (b) he's off-ball game isn't very potent anyway and (c) you lose the value he'd get on-ball. So yes, it's pretty good, but I'm not sure it's *great* option.
@@ThinkingBasketball Thanks for taking the time to respond! I really appreciate it!
This is a big problem with youtube sports media and analysts, since you have to keep your channel constantly on peoples faces so you'll get paid, there's no time for natural development on things, so everything seems like the end of the world, or you guys make it out to be, when in reality, 9 out of 10 times is just an overreaction, the Timberwolves last season and this season is also a perfect example.
You aren't ready for reality son, you should watch First Take instead. It's easier to understand for emotional casuals like you
Russ 9 time all nba btw. Right in the intro I was like how do you make this video and not say that
Update???
actual peak basketball content
Always solid content! Even if i dont comment im always tuning in
“Harden passes to Westbrook(for three) who is open for a reason” 😂😂 that’s a sneak diss