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Los Angeles Clippers: 5 Reasons Behind Early Struggles

By Gerald Bourguet

November 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) speaks with guard Chris Paul (3) during a stoppage in play against Toronto Raptors during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
November 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) speaks with guard Chris Paul (3) during a stoppage in play against Toronto Raptors during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Clippers
Nov 19, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul Pierce (34) talks to Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers after he was given a technical foul in the first half of the game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Finding The Right SF

All the fluctuation in the Clippers’ lineups has made it hard for them to develop a rhythm, but it’s not just injuries that have forced Doc Rivers’ hand. Between Wesley Johnson, Lance Stephenson and Paul Pierce, the Clippers have plenty of depth at the small forward position…they just don’t have very much contribution.

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    • So far, Stephenson has gotten 10 starts at small forward, but he’s done little to reassure the Clippers that trading for Born Ready was a good idea. Coming off a season in which he posted the lowest three-point percentage in NBA history among players who attempted at least 100 threes, Stephenson is averaging 4.8 points and 2.5 rebounds on abysmal shooting splits of .377/.333/.545.

    With Born Ready looking completely unready, Rivers made the switch to Pierce as the starter. Unfortunately, the Truth is now 38 years old and starting to show signs of his age, averaging a meager 5.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 32.2 percent from the floor and 26.8 percent from three-point range. It’s still early, but even Washington Wizards Paul Pierce looks long gone.

    As for Johnson, who hasn’t started a single game after that experiment failed during the preseason, you pretty much know what you’re going to get with him: minimum scoring and decent three-point shooting in a limited role. All in all, the Clippers are going to have problems winning games until they can find a wing capable of relegating Jamal Crawford back to the bench where he belongs in crunch time.

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