Los Angeles Clippers Power Rankings: Gauging Full Roster After First 6 Weeks
Coming off the best road trip in franchise history, the Los Angeles Clippers finished 6-1. The early-season struggles seem to be dissipating, and the team looks primed to compete for the division title once again.
Sitting at 11-5, the Clippers have had to overcome some adversity on both sides of the ball. They struggled to score early in the season, and the defense was unable to defend the perimeter. However, they seem to have found the energy and passion they played with last season, as they look improved on both sides of the ball after the first six weeks.
There are still issues to be resolved, as the perimeter defense lacks a legitimate wing defender and defensive rotations are still slow at times. Meanwhile, Blake Griffin has not been as aggressive offensively as he was last season, but Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford's stellar play has overcome many of the problems on offense.
Now that the Clippers have played enough games to make some initial observations, let's see how the current roster rankings shake out.
No. 11 to No.15
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No. 15: C.J. Wilcox
2014-15 Stats: None
Although his shooting could be used this season, Wilcox has yet to play in a game. Furthermore, the team is not willing to send him to the D-League, because the affiliate is across the country in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Barring a slew of injuries or a trade to thin out the depth at shooting guard, Wilcox will have to prove his worth in practice and learn as much as he can while observing from the bench.
No. 14: Jared Cunningham
2014-15 Stats: 1.1 PPG, .2 RPG, .4 APG, 26.7 FG%, 0.0 3PT%, 4.6 MPG
It seems at some point this season Doc Rivers might be willing to give Cunningham minutes as a defensive option in the backcourt. Rivers took a shot on Avery Bradley early in his career with the Boston Celtics, and the Los Angeles Clippers could use Cunningham’s quickness and length defensively. However, much like with Wilcox, the depth in the backcourt is keeping him firmly attached to the bench.
No. 13: Chris Douglas-Roberts
2014-15 Stats: 2.0 PPG, 1.8 RPG .3 APG, .09 FG%, 0.0 3PT%, 11.3 MPG
Unfortunately, an injured Achilles has limited Douglas-Roberts' impact this season so far. His recovery time is still unknown, but considering the struggles the team has had at the position, Rivers could use Douglas-Roberts’ defense. Los Angeles has struggled to defend on the perimeter, especially at small forward.
No. 12: Ekpe Udoh
2014-15 Stats: 0.0 PPG, .2 RPG, 0.0 APG, 0.0 FG%, 0.0 3PT%, 2.5 MPG
Barely seeing the floor so far, Udoh has not been able to crack the rotation due to the trio of Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Spencer Hawes taking a majority of the minutes. Udoh was signed for his shot-blocking prowess, but Rivers does not seem comfortable playing him extended minutes. Lastly, he is an offensive liability, as evidenced by his career 42.8 percentage from the field.
No. 11: Glen Davis
2014-15 Stats: 3.5 PPG, 1.4 RPG, .2 APG, 58.1 FG%, 0.0 3PT%, 10.3 MPG
As someone Rivers knows very well, Davis has split time as the fourth big with Hedo Turkoglu. Davis does not bring the type of floor spacing that Rivers likes, but he plays with energy and is willing to throw his body around after loose balls and rebounds. While his role will eventually expand as the season progresses, it seems Rivers is bringing him along slowly and waiting for Davis to play himself into game shape.
No. 10: Reggie Bullock
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2014-15 Stats: 3.0 PPG, 1.3 RPG, .2 APG, 42.3 FG%, 42.1 3PT%, 9.7 MPG
What once was excitement over a seemingly good fit two summers ago on draft night has faded into a question. Is Bullock capable of playing meaningful minutes on a playoff team, or is Doc Rivers refusing to trust the second-year player from North Carolina?
The answer might lie somewhere in the middle, but it is frustrating that a potential fix to a problem that has long plagued the Clippers is still a question and not an answer. Still, one has to wonder if the team might be better off with Rivers giving Bullock more minutes to find out if he is an answer this year, or if the coach needs to find another option at the trade deadline.
Statistics are not going to provide much data to justify Bullock’s minutes either way, as he has only played slightly over 600 minutes in his career. However, it is worth noting that he has shot 42.1 percent from three this season and has only committed two turnovers. The potential to be a three-and-D wing is clearly there, but he must prove to Rivers that he belongs on the court and is a potential solution at the position.
No. 9: Hedo Turkoglu
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2014-15 Stats: 3.3 PPG, .9 RPG, .7 APG, 60.0 FG%, 60.0 3PT%, 10.0 MPG
Once a lethal point forward who could operate pick-and-rolls and punish defenders from the three-point line, Turkoglu has aged well, even if the years have sapped whatever athleticism he had left. He seems to have found a believer in Rivers, who has shown confidence in the veteran’s game, inserting him into his small forward platoon with positive results.
According to 82games, Turkoglu has been a net positive by player efficiency rating, recording a plus-1.0 at small forward and plus-4.5 at power forward. This is primarily based on his 60 percent shooting mark from the field and beyond the arc.
While his defense still leaves plenty to be desired, his offensive versatility and efficiency allow Rivers to take advantage of matchups offensively. Defensively, he will not be able to stay in front of opposing small forwards, so his minutes will be sporadic. Furthermore, Rivers needs to keep an eye on Turkoglu's health, as he has not played more than 56 games in each of the last five seasons.
No. 8: Jordan Farmar
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2014-15 Stats: 4.1 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 38.7 FG%, 38.9 3PT%, 14.3 MPG
A position that has been one of the team’s strengths the past two seasons has been a disappointment this year. Farmar was brought in to spell Chris Paul, which Eric Bledsoe and Darren Collison had done admirably before him. However, it has not gone as expected.
Farmar’s inability to impact the game on either side of the ball is somewhat alarming. While he is shooting well from the floor, he has been horrid as a defender, allowing a player efficiency rating of 21.1 to opposing point guards, according to 82games.
He was never known as a great defender by any means, but the hope was that his 6'2", 180-pound build combined with his athleticism would provide an upgrade defensively over Collison. That has not been the case, but might be linked more to his early-season back issues instead of a decline in his play.
No. 7: Matt Barnes
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2014-15 Stats: 7.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, .7 APG, 43.9 FG%, 36.7 3PT%, 25.1 MPG
Expected to be a key component in the Clippers defense, Barnes has been anything but this season. Once again battling injuries, he is struggling to find his place in the rotation.
An ineffective defender thus far, Barnes has not been able to limit dribble penetration and is giving up 24.5 points per 48, according to 82games. Furthermore, he also has the lowest simple rating of any rotation player on the roster, and the team is 4.6 points better with him on the bench.
Barnes is better suited for a reserve role at this point in his career, but the Clippers need him to be a starter. His shooting, while decent, does not garner the respect of his foes. Barnes’ defender continually sags off him on the perimeter, helping down against Griffin and closing driving lanes for Paul.
Barnes needs to figure out a way to be more effective defensively, because the Clippers have a pressing need for a perimeter defender and he is the only player at the position Rivers trusts at the moment.
No. 6: J.J. Redick
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2014-15 Stats: 12.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.5 APG, 40.5 FG%, 35.2 3PT%, 28.3 MPG
Struggling to shoot the ball, Redick has been limited offensively. He went through a shooting slump early in the year but warmed up on the team’s seven-game road trip, where he shot 39.5 percent from three.
Redick’s ability to space the floor and draw defenders’ attention while coming off screens transforms the Clippers offense. However, when he is not making his shots, he does not bring much to the table, at least this season.
His assist numbers have faded since joining the team, but part of that is due to not having to create offense off the dribble like he did with the Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks two seasons ago. Redick is capable of attacking off the dribble and running side pick-and-rolls, but his role in the offense does not require him to create.
Once his shooting returns, he may climb higher on this list, but for now he will not challenge the top five.
No. 5: Spencer Hawes
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2014-15 Stats: 6.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.1 APG, 39.8 FG%, 29.7 3PT%, 17.6 MPG
The Clippers needed a legitimate third big for the past few seasons. They finally found one this summer in Hawes.
While his three-point shooting has been miserable, Hawes finds a way to impact the game each time he steps on the floor. His passing is underrated and has allowed the offense to flow more effectively, as he can hit cutters while on the block and feed the post from the top of the key.
Defensively, he has done an excellent job on the glass. According to Basketball-Reference, Hawes is pulling down 29.7 percent of defensive rebounds available, a mark that tops players such as Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan and Zach Randolph. Additionally, he is blocking nearly one shot per game.
His size and passing ability have opened up the offense. His effort and willingness to defend and rebound have made him a key contributor without even utilizing his best weapon—shooting.
No. 4: DeAndre Jordan
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2014-15 Stats: 8.0 PPG, 11.8 RPG, .6 APG, 72.5 FG%, 0.0 3PT%, 33.3 MPG
The league’s top rebounder last season is busy cleaning the glass again, as his 11.6 rebounds per game rank him fifth in the league.
Meanwhile, his ability to stifle opponents at the rim has been promising, as he is only allowing a field-goal percentage of 45.6 percent around the rim, according to NBA.com. That mark tops other recent Defensive Player of the Year award winners, Tyson Chandler and Marc Gasol.
Jordan’s impact obviously comes on defense, where he is the key to Rivers’ schemes. He has accepted that role and plays with passion and intensity, because his teammates rely on him to call out rotations and set the defense.
Offensively, he is never going to be a key contributor or a player that you can dump the ball to and expect him to string together post moves for a good look. Still, he is effective because he knows his limitations and plays to his strengths, which is why he is shooting an absurd 72.5 percent from the field.
No. 3: Blake Griffin
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2014-15 Stats: 22.6 PPG, 7.5, RPG 3.9 APG, 48.6 FG%, 57.1 3PT%, 34.8 MPG
Griffin may be leading the team in scoring, but the other aspects of his offensive arsenal have regressed this season. Despite improving the mechanics and consistency of his jumper, he is shooting 48.6 percent from the floor, which would be the lowest mark of his career.
Perhaps the most concerning has been his rebounding. He is currently pulling down only 7.5 boards per contest, which would also be the lowest mark of his career. Griffin needs to improve his desire to secure the glass and pull down defensive rebounds, an area that has haunted the Clippers the past two seasons.
Overall, his offensive ability looks improved thanks to his increased range, and he is competing harder defensively as well. The Clippers need Griffin at his best if they are to finally reach the conference finals. Hopefully, the best is yet to come.
No. 2: Jamal Crawford
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2014-15 Stats: 18.6 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 3.1, APG, 46.0 FG%, 38.5 3PT%, 28.7 MPG
One of the most exciting players to watch in the entire league, Crawford is torching opposing teams once again this season. His ability to create his own shot is valuable when the Clippers offense is struggling.
According to Basketball-Reference, Crawford has only been assisted on 27.3 percent of his two-point field goals, yet he is connecting on 52.9 percent of them. Because of this, he leads the team with a net-10.3 on-court/off-court rating, according to 82games.
Despite his defensive mishaps, Crawford has been amazing offensively this season. He also had the difficult task of filling in at small forward for a few games while Rivers tinkered with the rotation. Crawford definitely could be considered the team’s most valuable player to begin the season but was narrowly topped by the final player of these rankings.
No. 1: Chris Paul
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2014-15 Stats: 18.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 9.6 APG, 52.9 FG%, 42.6 3PT%, 35.4 MPG
Undoubtedly one of the best performers of the first six weeks of the season, Paul has been otherworldly. His efforts on both sides of the floor helped navigate the Clippers through rough waters.
A career 36 percent three-point shooter, Paul has been scintillating from deep, going 23-of-54. His stroke has come and gone during his career with the Clippers, but his shooting has been vital to the team’s success this season.
Additionally, he only has 24 turnovers through 16 games, resulting in an amazing 6.43 assist-to-turnover ratio. His career mark of 4.13 is absurd, but he has been a dynamo with the ball in his hands to start the season.
Finally, Paul ranks third among all players in value over replacement player (7.2), according to Basketball-Reference. His play will likely tail off a bit as the season progresses, but if he continues down this path, he might win his first MVP award.
All statistics as of December 1.
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