Just two weeks ago, things were finally starting to look up for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Paul George and Norman Powell both would be back for the team before the playoffs began, rumors of Kawhi Leonard returning in the playoffs swirled around, and a roster that without its two-star players managed to stay firmly in the play-in hunt finally looked like they would be a dark horse contender to win the Western Conference. Sports are a cruel mistress, though, and the rollercoaster never stops churning out twists and turns along the way.

Just two days after a shocking collapse at the hands of a mostly Towns-less Timberwolves team for much of the second half, Paul George landed on the COVID-19 list this morning, ruling him out for tonight's single-elimination contest in Los Angeles against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Jackson was the bus driver on offense for the Clippers this season, especially without Leonard and George.

Jackson carried a 29% usage rate, which ranked in the 95th percentile among all NBA players per Cleaning The Glass. However,  just because Jackson drove the bus does not mean the bus necessarily had all four tires.

With Jackson on the floor this season, the Clippers found themselves -2.6 points per possession worse and -4.0 points per 100 possessions worse overall. Based on projections from Cleaning the Glass, the Clippers should have lost 10 more games than they did with Jackson as the bus driver.

Jackson's shooting splits overall also were nothing spectacular either.

Jackson shot 41% from 4-14 ft from the basket, 35% from outside of 14 ft, and 39% overall from the midrange area on the season.

Jackson also shot 34% from three-point range overall, including 35% on 102 attempts from the Corner, which ranks in the 25th percentile for all players this season per Cleaning the Glass.
Without George or Leonard tonight, the Clippers do not have a ton of options on offense outside of Jackson, Powell, and Marcus Morris to create offense.

To his credit, Jackson did rank in the 77th percentile in assist % this season for all players, and the Clippers overall ranked in the 84th percentile in turnover % with Jackson running the show.

For the Clippers to force a rematch with the Phoenix Suns, it will fall on Jackson to drive the bus again tonight. For Clippers fans' sake though, they better hope that the bus Michelin Star tires.