The Los Angeles Clippers entered the 2021-2022 NBA season knowing that All Star Kawhi Leonard will be out for at least the majority of the year. Leonard suffered a partial ACL tear in Game 4 vs the Utah Jazz, and had surgery to repair the damage on July 14th.
Many people are speculating that this is when Kawhi Leonard suffered his injury. I am hoping it is not a torn ACL. #NBA pic.twitter.com/lXyEk0Oo4E
— Chris Beasmore (@CBeasmoreSports) June 16, 2021
That tempered expectations a bit seeing as they were among favorites to win the NBA Championship since Leonard joined Los Angeles in 2019.
Seemingly deflated, the Clippers came out of the gates slow. They lost three of their first four games. Since then, they have won six straight games. Their point differential during that win streak is an impressive +61. In other words, they are blowing teams out.
That has some people fawning over the Clippers and their chances this season. I am not one of them. Here are three overreactions to the Clippers hot start.
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was quoted recently describing “George as playing at the level of a most-valuable-player candidate,” according to LA Times staff writer Andrew Greif.
Paul George is playing at an MVP level this season.
26.7 PPG
8.3 RPG (career-high)
5.4 APG (career-high)
2.5 SPG (career-high)
46/36/86%The Clippers have won 5 in a row. pic.twitter.com/pGtrBL6J4J
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 10, 2021
He might be playing at or near an MVP level right now, but he is not going to win league MVP. George is turning the ball over at a significantly worse rate than he has in his career. He is averaging just under five turnovers per game. That's almost Russell Westbrook territory.
Plus, in order to win league MVP, you typically need your team to be among the few elites. Despite the win streak, I do not believe they will finish at or near the top of the Western Conference.
Another overreaction to the start of the season for the Clippers is the decline of Eric Bledsoe. The Clippers brought him back to Los Angeles over the offseason in hopes to add some backcourt athleticism and scoring. Entering Thursday night, some people were already writing him off.
He had struggled as Clipper early on, scoring only 8.8 points per game and is 8th in player efficiency rating on the team. No doubt, those numbers are not good. But there are signs he will turn it around. His defense is still very evident.
Typically, when a basketball player starts their decline, it normally begins with their defense. He is among the league leaders in steals. He also almost has a two to one assist to turnover ratio. That's what you want.
Thursday night, Bledsoe came alive offensively, dropping 21 points on 9-16 shooting, as the Clippers extended their win streak to six games.
Another overreaction to the Clippers season is considering them serious contenders in the deep Western Conference. Let's not forget that during this win streak, they have beaten the Thunder, the Timberwolves twice and the Hornets. That's not exactly a murderer's row.
Until they can consistently play at this level vs some of the leagues best teams, I believe they will remain pretenders, not contenders.
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