Let’s be real, hardly anyone expected the Los Angeles Clippers to look this good after losing Paul George and sidelining Kawhi Leonard. Yet, here they are, sitting at 14-10 in the Western Conference, ahead of teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, and even the Denver Nuggets.
James Harden has been the offensive engine the Clippers needed, but it’s not all him. Norman Powell has emerged as a big revelation for the team, putting up a career-high 23.9 points per game alongside 2.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists on 50.5% shooting from the field.
The Clippers’ improvement owes a lot to Powell’s career year, but it also highlights their decision to step back from relying on star-heavy roster to embracing their depth. Powell himself pointed this out, suggesting that they’re more team-oriented this season and that having four Hall of Famers on the same team last season was a difficult situation.
Per HoopsHype:
“I think the way we’re playing with the group of guys that we have – and it’s not to knock or say anything – is more team-oriented and less star-dominant. We had four superstars and Hall of Fame candidates, and everybody was used to playing a certain way. It’s hard to get four superstars on a team to mesh. You’ve seen success stories and teams like that, like Golden State, but when you’re coming and trying to build a team quickly, some things don’t work out as well, especially if you’re injury-prone because then you have guys in and out and you don’t get that chemistry.”
