Rowan Kavner
LOS ANGELES – As the Clippers try to figure out the cause of their early-season struggles, it’s games such as Friday’s against the Pelicans which only add to the mystery.
The Clippers’ (8-8) starters watched the end of the fourth quarter from the bench after looking more like the highly explosive, highly efficient group they expected to be in a 111-90 rout of the Pelicans (4-12), leading by 21 at halftime and cruising to their largest margin of victory this season.
Next Game: 11/29
After the Clippers’ latest loss to the Jazz, head coach Doc Rivers challenged his players to look at what they could do individually.
“I’ve got to defend better, I’ve got to rebound more, I’ve got to block more shots, set more picks to get guys open and finish whenever I get the ball,” DeAndre Jordan said during shootaround the day of the Pelicans game.
Nine and a half minutes into Jordan’s night, he had already posted six points and eight rebounds. The team got out in transition where they’re dangerous, scoring eight fast-break points without allowing any in the first quarter. By the end of the game, the Clippers doubled the Pelicans’ mark in the category, mostly because of what they were able to do defensively, holding the Pelicans to 36.2 percent shooting.
J.J. Redick said before the game he’s still getting his rhythm back after missing three games with back spasms. He also looked more like himself Friday, scoring 20 points and going 3-of-3 from 3-point range. Blake Griffin, the most consistent performer of the year, continued his blistering start to the season with 20 points, six rebounds and six assists. Chris Paul added 17 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
As the nucleus of returning stars each looked individually at themselves, they all answered Friday against the Pelicans.
And the reserves did what many had envisioned when the Clippers first put this cast together in the offseason, providing energy and getting out on the run. Lance Stephenson finished plus-11 and added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists off the bench. Austin Rivers scored 17 points off the bench and Jamal Crawford added nine points, moving into the top 100 players all-time in scoring in the process.
