LA Clippers: Efficiency issues ended run in NBA playoffs

The LA Clippers were not able to score and score at an efficient rate against the Denver Nuggets. Therefore their run in the NBA playoffs is over.

When the ball doesn’t go through the net it’s impossible to win. The LA Clippers efficiency problems made it difficult to close in the NBA playoffs.

Efficiency is hard. Being accurate is the hallmark of human civilization. Robots are not ubiquitous yet. Humans are still operating mechanics.

A robot also doesn’t play basketball. Humans do that.

Us humans are the hallmark of civilization. We turn wastelands into gold mines. Complex cities were built by the human touch.

All the above is created with efficiency. Preciseness and accuracy go a long way. The players on the Clippers are not robots. They make mistakes.

A professional earns funds by fixing those mistakes. The players never did. LA’s problems in the clutch were nerve-wracking.

The game slowed down in the NBA playoffs. The team’s offense was better than its defense during the season.

While that is true regular season play is faster than the postseason. During the season, players were out. They couldn’t get into a rhythm.

A long win streak would have been healthy. The Los Angeles Lakers started out the gate at 17-2 and they never looked back.

The Clippers in the clutch during the postseason were horrendous. They gave up big leads in games that could have clinched advancement to the next round.

Here’s what Kawhi Leonard said about the series:

"“We just couldn’t make shots. I feel like we got some good looks… We gotta know what exact spots we need to be in. Just gotta carry over and get smarter as a team. Gotta get smarter. Basketball IQ’s gotta get better.”"

Exhausted doesn’t define the Clippers this season. This team was weary. The plays that we’ve come to know from Paul George and Kawhi Leonard weren’t made.

George can knock down threes at will. Kawhi Leonard wills the ball into the hole. It was impossible this time around because teams expected it.

Leonard and George were never able to accept the playmaking role. Their teammates needed them to feed them the ball. It never came.

This postseason was mentally tasking. There was no trust. The great supporting cast was rendered useless.

Teams knew the Clippers were coming and they rose to the challenge. Things need to change.

Getting young at the point is one and getting more active at center is two.

One can be solved by starting Landry Shamet. Shamet was able to win them the series in the first round.

His patience helps the team tenfold. He does not take risks that a veteran would take.

Montrezl Harrell won the Sixth Man of the Year award. It’s time to graduate as a starter. Harrell’s activeness is necessary at the beginning of the game.

Harrell and Shamet are the energizer bunny and drum that provides life to the Clippers. The time is now to move them with the starters.

Here’s what Doc Rivers said about the loss:

"“Just disappointed. I thought we had so many opportunities over the last 3 games to win… Honestly, I thought you can see the difference: that team has been together. We haven’t, and you can see it as the games went on… I still didn’t think we trusted.”"

The LA Clippers needed to make baskets and couldn’t. They got tired. The offseason will call for minor but crucial changes.