Run it Back! NBA Week in Review, Los Angeles Clippers Edition - Week #24

[00:00:00] I'm Jose Salviati, editor at the PeachBasket.net and formally the featured columnist covering

[00:00:15] the Clippers for Bleach Report.

[00:00:17] This is a show where we recap the week that was for Los Angeles Clippers and then highlight

[00:00:22] their marquee matchup for the week to come.

[00:00:25] Let's start like we always do with a look at where the team lands on the PeachBasket

[00:00:28] subjective power rankings this week.

[00:00:31] The Clippers finish the week at 3-1, which is exactly as predicted last week.

[00:00:37] In fact, I was able to get the wins and losses exactly right, which is pretty cool.

[00:00:43] Predicting games from this point on, though, is going to be tougher as teams are resting

[00:00:46] players and carrying a bit less, especially if they're seeding a secured or they're

[00:00:51] just kind of getting ready for Cancun case in point that you touch as.

[00:00:56] The Clippers started the week and ended the month of March with a win against Charlotte

[00:01:00] Hornets in Charlotte 130-118.

[00:01:05] That win put them at 3-0 in their road trip going into Sacramento.

[00:01:09] As we predicted, they fell flat against the Sacramento Kings on their home court.

[00:01:14] Clippers lost that game 109-295 to finish their road trip at 3-1, which is not bad, but

[00:01:21] anytime the team loses at this point, people freak out.

[00:01:27] But thankfully for them, things rebounded quickly.

[00:01:33] Let's talk about it.

[00:01:34] They returned home after that loss to take on the Denver Nuggets in a very important game

[00:01:40] as the playoffs loom.

[00:01:43] The defending champion Nuggets are clearly ramping up in one of the best and hottest teams in

[00:01:49] the association.

[00:01:50] Despite being without Jamal Murray, the Clippers who were without Kauai Leonard, so let's call

[00:01:55] it even, got the win 102-100 in what was an absolutely great game.

[00:02:02] The week ended for the Clippers with a win against the decimated Utah Jazz.

[00:02:05] We talked about that.

[00:02:06] We referenced them earlier, 131-102.

[00:02:11] That 3-1 record for the week combined with an implosion happening in New Orleans for

[00:02:15] the Pelicans has solidified the Clippers standing at number 4 in the West Power Rankings.

[00:02:20] Unfortunately for the Clippers, while the Pelicans are struggling, the Mavericks are now

[00:02:24] hot on the Clippers' heels.

[00:02:27] Overall the Clippers will remain at number 5 for the 10th week in a row on the Peach

[00:02:30] Basket subjective overall power rankings.

[00:02:33] Let's take a look at the best to do it in key categories for the Clippers with Kauai Leonard

[00:02:39] out for the majority of this week.

[00:02:41] While George was the team leader in points averaging 25.3, PG was also the top sniper, averaging

[00:02:47] 3.5, 3.4, and 4.5, and 4.5.

[00:02:52] Kauai only played in one game in week number 24 but he made 10 field goals in that game to

[00:02:57] lead the Clippers.

[00:02:59] On the rebound side, it is all of its Zubas.

[00:03:03] Big Zoo played 4 games and led the team in every rebound in category.

[00:03:07] He averaged 12 total rebounds, 2.3 offensive rebounds, and 9.8 defensive rebounds.

[00:03:15] This is a guy who understands the assignment.

[00:03:19] I'm a big fan of Zoo and I'd love to see him doing what he was brought on to do and

[00:03:26] continuing to do it well.

[00:03:28] James Harden speaking of continuation continues to be the assist man for the Clippers.

[00:03:34] In week number 24 he played 4 games and averaged 10.3 assists to once again lead the team.

[00:03:40] Zubas is back as the rim protector this time, he led the team averaging 1.8 blocks.

[00:03:47] While George was a top steals man, taking away 1.5 possessions from the other team over

[00:03:53] his 4 games played.

[00:03:55] PG also led the team in overall game score at 20.1.

[00:04:01] The final full week of games in the regular season for the Clippers and the NBA.

[00:04:07] Because the season is winding down, some teams will be resting players, experimenting, preparing

[00:04:15] to vacation.

[00:04:17] Predicting this group of wins and losses is going to be a little tougher than normal.

[00:04:22] The week starts at home with the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

[00:04:26] The Cavs have not yet secured their seating, they will have done a bit of Mitchell available.

[00:04:31] I think this could be a very good game.

[00:04:34] The Clippers then play a home in a way series against the Phoenix Suns starting with the

[00:04:37] game in Phoenix.

[00:04:39] The Suns are trying to avoid the play in, inch further up in the standings.

[00:04:44] We brought up earlier that the Madrix are on a bit of a roll, we'll store the Suns.

[00:04:49] As we take this on Saturday they've gone 7 and 3 over the last 10 games so these games

[00:04:56] against the Clippers will matter to them.

[00:05:00] The week ends for the Clippers against the Utah Jazz at home.

[00:05:04] The big challenge in predicting this week is the Clippers seating position.

[00:05:08] If they were able to secure the number 4 spot, they may rest some players.

[00:05:14] When the losses at this point matter less what you want to see instead is effort and

[00:05:20] intensity from whoever takes the floor wearing that Clippers jersey.

[00:05:25] With that in mind, we're going to predict a 2 and 2 week for the Clippers with wins against

[00:05:30] the Jazz at home and the Suns in Phoenix and losses to the Cavs and Suns at home.

[00:05:38] Now normally in this part of the show we would take a look at what others are saying about

[00:05:43] the Clippers in a segment we call full court press.

[00:05:46] We're going to skip that today and keep the show short as we kind of prepare for the

[00:05:52] playoffs ourselves.

[00:05:53] We've got a lot going on this weekend so we're going to keep the show short and skip

[00:05:58] full court press this week.

[00:06:01] That's it, week number 24 of the Clippers 2023-24 NBA season is in the books during

[00:06:07] this next week after week number 25, the final full week of the NBA season when we once

[00:06:12] again run it back.