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Image Credits: Imagn
Imago
Image Credits: Imagn
The L.A. Clippers have made a big swing this summer! With additions of Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, and Brook Lopez, it’s safe to say that Tyronn Lue and Co. are not playing around. They’ve largely overhauled their rotation behind their superstar duo of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, as they eye a deep playoff run this season. That seems like a fair target, right? Well, yes and no. That’s because despite stacking up talent throughout the summer, there’s a huge problem.
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Well, even though Tyronn Lue has managed to sign a great perimeter rotation behind Harden and Leonard, apart from the Klaw, they don’t have any solid defenders. That’s right. While Bradley Beal and Chris Paul do bring in a lot of experience and skills on the offensive end, they aren’t the best option on defense. This could be a massive cause of headache for Tyronn Lue. More so, because of the lack of options within the rosters.
That’s exactly what ESPN pointed out in their newest contender assessment for the 2025-26 season. “Conversely, the Clippers’ best guard and wing defenders next to Leonard are incumbents Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr., but coach Tyronn Lue doesn’t want to play that duo together because of how they compromise LA’s offensive spacing — Jones and Dunn shared the court for only two total minutes in the playoffs last spring.” The outlet wrote.
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Jan 12, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) reacts against the Charlotte Hornets during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
They were quick to point out that the majority of the acquisitions the Clippers have made are offensive contributors. Meanwhile, the next best defensive guard and wing option next to Kawhi Leonard is Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr., both of whom are not trusted by Coach Lue, which is quite understandable. That’s because while Dunn and Jones Jr. could bolster L.A.’s defense, they will compromise the team’s offense.
This makes it clear that finding the right combination of offense and defense will be a huge problem for the Clippers. But, is there a solution?
Can the LA Clippers solve their defensive problems?
It’s pretty clear that it’s the defensive end where Tyronn Lue and his LA Clippers team will have the most problems. But the question is, can they solve it? Before we assume anything, let’s make it clear that for most of the season, the Clippers may end up fielding offensively-inclined sides. That’s because of the sheer number of offensive contributors they have in their ranks. Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, and James Harden are all offensive-minded players and will struggle while defending.
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So, to find the right balance, without tilting either way, will be a huge ask. Well, here’s where their new power forward, John Collins, will come in. While Collins has struggled within the perimeter, he can be a good two-way option for the Clippers. The 27-year-old will have to ramp up his defensive energy because that’s exactly what Tyronn Lue will need him to do.
Not just this, the Clippers can also rely on their two big men, as both Ivica Zubac and Brook Lopez are sound defenders. Not to mention, Tyronn Lue and his assistant, Jeff Van Gundy, did a flawless job of covering up James Harden’s defensive flaws with elite rotations. So, we can expect the coaching duo to pull off something similar with the likes of Bradley Beal and Chris Paul in the lineup.
While it surely is an offensively-heavy roster, the Clippers will need to find a way to find the right rotations to make up for what is missing on the other end of the court.
Written by
Edited by
Rishabh Bhatnagar