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LA Clippers: A look into the recent troubles

By Aymin Bakr

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 11: Tobias Harris #34, Marcin Gortat #13, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 and Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers watch during a 123-99 Toronto Raptors win at Staples Center on December 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 11: Tobias Harris #34, Marcin Gortat #13, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 and Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers watch during a 123-99 Toronto Raptors win at Staples Center on December 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Limited offensive productivity from guards

The LA Clippers overall have a fairly good mix of scoring capabilities across multiple positions. However, outside of Lou Williams, they simply haven’t been able to find consistent offensive production from their other consistent rotation guys at the guard spots.

While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander certainly has helped to some degree, he’s not known to be a scorer and has been really the only consistent source of offensive production outside of Williams in the guard rotation.

He’s scored 15 or more points in seven games this season, but has managed to cap out at just 19.

The 20-year-old is averaging a respectable 10.7 points per contest while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from behind the 3-point line, but these numbers are still far from stellar.

This wouldn’t be too much of an issue if the scoring load was balanced between the other rotational guards, but that’s not the case. Patrick Beverley and Avery Bradley are both known to be elite defenders, but their offensive production has never been horrible.

This season, however, they’ve struggled to find their groove. Beverley is averaging just 6.4 points in 24.3 minutes per game while shooting a below-average 34.3 percent from the field and 30.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Meanwhile, Bradley barely tops him in points per game and field goal percentage with 7.6 and 37.6 respectively, but is connecting on a mere 28.4 percent of his 3-point attempts in 29.5 minutes of play.

Guys like Milos Teodosic and Tyrone Wallace don’t necessarily aid with this issue either as they both play under 10 minutes per game and average just 3.3 points per contest. Aside from Lou Williams, the Clippers don’t have an offensive-minded guard and it’s really hurt them as of late.

Because they have a well balanced scoring effort from other positions, they’ve been able to counteract this issue for a good chunk of the season. However, now they’re missing a key piece.

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