Darian Vaziri here, the host of the daily Locked On Clippers podcast, with your daily Locked On Clippers newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Clippers and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
How LA Clippers Got Destroyed By Boston Celtics
Nov 25, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) fouls LA Clippers guard Kevin Porter Jr. (77) in the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II/David Butler II-Imagn Images
Clippers Face Tough Loss Against Celtics: A Learning Experience
The Los Angeles Clippers faced a challenging game against the Boston Celtics, resulting in their worst loss of the season with a score of 126-94. As a dedicated Clippers fan, I understand the frustration, but it’s crucial to recognize the factors that contributed to this outcome.
Celtics’ Dominance and Clippers’ Challenges
The Celtics showcased their prowess, particularly with their three-point shooting, which was unstoppable. Their starting lineup, featuring Kristaps Porzingis, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday, is arguably the best in the league. Even without Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers were up against a formidable opponent, especially on the second night of a back-to-back.
James Harden showed promise, displaying more burst and effectiveness in recent games. However, the Celtics’ ability to outscore us, particularly in the second quarter, highlighted their superior offensive and defensive capabilities. Despite our elite defense, the Celtics managed to exploit weaknesses, especially in transition and pick-and-pop situations.
Looking Ahead and Staying Positive
While the loss was significant, it’s essential to keep perspective. The Celtics are a top-tier team, and their performance was exceptional. The Clippers have the potential to bounce back, especially with upcoming games against teams like the Washington Wizards, who are on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of performance.
It’s important to acknowledge the areas where improvement is needed, such as defensive transitions and handling pick-and-pop plays. The absence of key players like Powell and Leonard undoubtedly impacted our performance, but the team has shown resilience in the past and can do so again.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Clippers’ strategies and performances, tune into the Locked On Clippers podcast for this and much more.
**Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Clippers Podcast:**
- Individual player performances and areas for improvement
- The impact of missing key players like Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard
- Analysis of James Harden’s recent form and contributions
- Challenges posed by pick-and-pop teams and defensive strategies
- Upcoming games and what to expect from the Clippers
Giannis Antetokounmpo improves on greatness, again
Giannis, Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez lead the way for the Bucks in 2024
Our modern relationship with the concept of greatness is a strange thing. Certainly in NBA basketball, but even more broadly, we like to hold greatness up to its lack. Less readily do we accept greatness at face value, or allow for greatness to simply stand on its own. It needs a backdrop of failure, and maybe because of that, it is failure we’ve become better at discussing. When greatness persists, or proves to have staying power, it feels almost dull. We want greatness to come with persistent conflict, and we want our greats to prove it, again and again.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a prime modern example.
Over the weekend, Antetokounmpo made history. He became the NBA athlete to record the most 30-point games in a decade, beating out the obvious candidates of Steph Curry and LeBron James. That’s over 262 games with 30-plus-points. So far this season, he’s been averaging 32.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game, and shooting field goals at a 60.8% accurate clip. These numbers are staggering and yet, at a glance around discussion on the season, you’d think they were hum-drum.
Truth be told, conversation about the Bucks and Antetokounmpo seemed more engaged when both struggled early in the season. Those favourite, swirling questions of will-he-or-won’t-he be traded, or force a trade, rose with aplomb. A championship calibre team doing badly is always news, sure, but when its championship calibre superstar pushes through the struggles to virtually carry the team, we tend to turn our attention elsewhere.
Maybe it’s because the thing that’s given Antetokounmpo another gear this season — rediscovering the mid-range — is a part of the floor not as exciting as the three-point range teams like the Celtics are bombing from, but the bump has been drastic. Last season Antetokounmpo shot 35.1% from the mid-range and thus far this season he’s converting 47.8% of his mid-range attempts (of which he’s doubled, 2.4 to 4.3).
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Roster Jordan Miller stayed ready when called upon, showcasing his readiness and determination to contribute to the team. His preparedness underscores the depth and versatility of the Clippers’ roster. Miller’s readiness is a strategic advantage for the Clippers. (Daily News)
Ranking No. 8. That’s where NBA writer John Schuhmann has the Clippers in this week’s power rankings. Read the full list. (NBA.com)
Preview Emirates NBA Cup play continues this week — here’s what lies ahead for all teams. (NBA)
Roster Before the 2025 NBA Draft, get familiar with 10 international prospects. (ESPN)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Monday’s Fantasy Basketball Recap - Hamstrings Strike In Orlando
Nov 23, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) shoots during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters/Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action brought a whirlwind of performances, injuries, and strategic moves that could significantly impact your fantasy basketball lineup. Here are the major takeaways from the day, focusing on what’s most relevant for fantasy managers.
Injury Updates and Player Returns
- Devin Vassell is expected back on Wednesday, which is great news for those who have been patient with his knee issues. Meanwhile, Jordan Clarkson is out for Utah, creating opportunities for players like Colin Sexton and Isaiah Collier to step up. Keep an eye on Johnny Juzang as a potential deep-league add.
- Gary Harris suffered a hamstring injury, which could open up more minutes for Cole Anthony and Anthony Black. With Jalen Suggs also dealing with a hamstring issue, these players could see increased roles.
Waiver Wire Trends
- Moussa Diabate has become a hot commodity following Grant Williams’ injury. While Diabate’s scoring is limited, his defensive stats make him a valuable short-term add.
- Malcolm Brogdon is worth considering for streaming, though his long-term value remains uncertain. Similarly, Ty Jerome had a standout performance, but his shooting percentages are unlikely to be sustainable.
- Naji Marshall and T.J. McConnell are sensible additions given the current absences in their respective teams. McConnell, in particular, could provide solid assists and steals with several key players out.
