The Best of the Day: March 2nd, 2021

CLIPPERS CAN ONLY BE CONTENDERS IF THEY GET OVER THEIR CHOKING HABITS

After entering the season as the favorites to win the 2020 NBA Finals and receiving hype as the new Kings of LA, the Clippers ended their season in disastrous fashion. Up 3-1 to the Denver Nuggets, the Clippers blew double-digit leads in three straight games to blow the 3-1 series lead, and a dream LA matchup in the WCF was ruined as Paul George and Kawhi Leonard struggled mightily during crunch time in that series.

LAC fired Doc Rivers, promoting Tyronn Lue in hopes of a culture shift. GM Lawrence Frank replaced Montrezl Harrell with Serge Ibaka, Landry Shamet with Luke Kennard, and JaMychal Green with Nic Batum in hopes of finding the guys that can complete a championship contender. There’s no doubt that the Los Angeles Clippers have the talent to bring this franchise its first title in NBA history. 

However, the same core guys are in place and they’re showing similar signs of choking as they did last year. Paul George went 2-10 FG in the 4th quarter of their loss to Milwaukee a few days ago and then followed that up with a 1-9 FG 4th Qtr performance in their defeat Tuesday night vs. Boston. PG13 is shooting 25% FG in clutch situations this season (5-pt game within final 5 minutes) after an abysmal display during those situations in last year’s postseason.

Kawhi Leonard was a late scratch (back spasms) against Boston and has a much better career reputation in big moments. His poor performance in the second half of those final three games vs. Denver can be chalked up as an aberration during unprecedented circumstances in an unpredictable environment. Yet, Leonard’s late struggled have carried over into this season as he owns the fourth-lowest FG% (28%) in clutch situations during 2020-21

This team is built to compete for a championship with two of the best two-way wings in the game, supported by the greatest 6th man of all-time, a proven championship-caliber Big Man, an all-effort point guard stopper, and one of the best benches in the league. 

However, their inability to come through when it matters held them back last year and has prevented them from reaching their potential again this season. The Clippers can be legitimate contenders, but their best two players will have to get buckets when it matters and put their choking habits of old in the past to turn that into a reality. 

COLORS KEY | FULL CLIPPERS FUTURE OUTLOOK 

Paul George last two 4th quarters:

7 PTS
3-19 FG
1-11 3P

He’s shooting 25% in the clutch this season. pic.twitter.com/oO0O4CRJ9Y

— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 3, 2021

Paul George finished with 32 points in the Clippers loss vs the Celtics, but went 1-for-11 with 3 points when guarded by Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown pic.twitter.com/EBjrjx59gp

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 3, 2021

The Clippers were 0-9 FG in the last 4 minutes of the game against the Bucks, their most misses without a make in the last 4 minutes of regulation over the last 10 seasons.

Paul George and Kawhi Leonard attempted every shot. pic.twitter.com/1GbBoiYHKx

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 28, 2021

Related: NBA Takeaways of the Day