Jeff Van Gundy’s defensive calls for remodeling Clippers right into a stingy unit
Even with maybe their finest defender, Kawhi Leonard, out the complete preseason, the Clippers have nonetheless overwhelmed groups on protection.
All through coaching camp, the Clippers have made it their aim to be a troublesome defensive group, to make it arduous on opponents to attain, to be gritty and sound on protection.
“We’re getting after it defensively,” James Harden stated after Monday evening’s preseason win over the Dallas Mavericks.
The Clippers had 20 steals in opposition to the Mavericks. Heart Ivica Zubac led the best way with 4 and Harden and Kevin Porter Jr. had three.
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Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy has been answerable for the protection and has been insisting on high-level play.
“We obtained to wash up some issues,” Harden stated. “We wish to be excellent. We obtained Jeff Van Gundy, who’s on us on a regular basis about being excellent defensively, trigger that’s like the possibility that we now have. In order that’s our foremost focus after which as you may see slightly little bit of glimpse of it [Monday night]. It generated some fast-break alternatives, which we transformed. In order that’s what we’re going to hold our hats off on.”
In 4 preseason video games, the Clippers have allowed a median of simply 98 factors per recreation. Solely the Brooklyn Nets have scored greater than 100 factors (106) in opposition to the Clippers.
Clippers assistant coach Brian Shaw additionally credited Van Gundy for serving to spearhead the group’s deal with protection.
“I imply, there’s at all times room for enchancment,” Shaw stated. “I feel that the largest factor is that Van Gundy has empowered them to be tremendous aggressive in that they’ll’t make a mistake so long as they’re enjoying arduous. And like I stated, being aggressive.”
Shaw stated they’ve high wing defenders in Derek Jones Jr, Kris Dunn, Porter, Terance Mann and Amir Cofey.
Meaning the Clippers can defend everywhere in the court docket and really feel snug with any of them.
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“We now have versatility by way of guys that may play a number of positions and defend a number of positions,” Shaw stated. “In order that needs to be a power of ours.”
The Clippers should make the most of that power of their preseason finale Thursday in opposition to the Sacramento Kings on the Intuit Dome with Leonard unable to play due to irritation in his proper knee. It is nonetheless unclear if Leonard will play within the Clippers’ season opener at residence in opposition to the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 23.
“He has not been part of what we’ve been doing every day,” Shaw stated. “I do know the form of firm line has been that we’re going to be affected person with him. So, he’s doing every part that he can to rehab it and strengthen that knee on his personal (and) with our medical workers and we’re simply coping with the blokes that we now have.”
This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Instances.
