Youth versus Youth
A few years ago the Clippers made a choice to blow it up and start building from the ground up based on scouting and smart trading. They saw themselves getting older with no path to improvement ahead of them except for "The Process".
A few years ago the OKC was a perennial bottom feeder in the Western conference, working their magic through trades and stashing Euros. The path was not "The Process".
Now to present times and we see two young teams, bursting with promising stars. Currently the Clips look to be just behind OKC, as they took the longer approach of watching their young stars bloom. The Clips have a strong back court with DAngelo Russell (injured), Devin Booker, and Rodney Hood. These guys will be around in Los Angeles for a while i would think. The front court of Ryan Anderson and Clint Capela is a pairing that could hold their own against most teams in the league. Adding Cody Zeller and Alec "Ãrjury Reserve" Burks, you could make an argument that the team is 7 deep. Beyond that is all "Process" players who probably wont amount to much. This issue that arises this week for the Clips is the lack of depth, as Burks and Russell cannot play, that leaves Jerian "for a 2nd" Grant and Tyler Ulis to get the back up back court roles.
OKC is on the fast track to success due to their depth, and for this week at least injury luck. If you haven't looked recently, just flick to the roster page for the Thunder. Go on, do it now, reading this can wait... Now one of these things do not look like the others. I'll give you a hint. Look at Schroder's contract.... That's right he is the only guy who looks to hit free agency in the next 3 years except for offensive centerpiece- JaVale McGee. The Western Conference is going to have a tough few years dealing with the likes of the Thunder. Seriously look at that squad, when you have 9 guys who start in the NBA in your team, you're obviously going to win more games than you lose. Plus this team is gonna be a monster defensive team if they are managed correctly. Jonas, Draymond, MKG, Bulter, and Rubio as a starting 5. Is there a better defensive starting 5 in the league? Rubio has 81 On Ball Defense and Jonas has 80 Low Post Defense, these are the worst defenders in the starting 5. We could find a few teams in the league who don't have either of these stats in their whole line up.
Another fun fact for you. Dirk Nowitzki helped the Thunder get 2 of their starting 5. First he was traded for Jimmy Bulter, Alec Burks, and others. Burks was then traded for MKG. Burks then went to the Clips for Clippers 2016 & 2018 first rounders (sorry to bring this one up Andrew).
Another Another fun fact the Clips are actually a team that has neither 81 On Ball Defense or 80 Low Post Defense on their whole roster. Rodney Hood is a very close 80 On Ball Defense, but no one else is even close. So maybe we can just say that the Clips will have their hands full getting buckets this week, and they will have trouble stopping teams just like the Thunder.
The only starting 5 player advantage that the Clips hold is Hood over MKG, and the advantage is negligible. With MKG to try shut Hood down. Maybe a few more years for the Clips
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