Many BD Cricket users now believe the Clippers have emerged as serious title contenders. Since James Harden joined the team, all four stars — Harden, Leonard, George, and Westbrook — have experienced significant changes, and those shifts have dramatically boosted the team’s performance. Sometimes, life is simpler when fewer eyes are watching, and for the Clippers, a lineup adjustment sparked a turnaround.
After head coach Tyronn Lue moved Terance Mann into the starting lineup in place of Russell Westbrook, the Clippers’ new starting five (Harden, Mann, Leonard, George, and Zubac) has become one of the league’s most efficient. Among lineups that have played at least 200 minutes, this unit ranks fourth in net rating across the NBA.
Harden’s early days in LA were shaky. The team suffered a losing streak, and he seemed unsure of his role. But after extensive conversations with Coach Lue, Harden had a realization: he needed to become a catch-and-shoot player again. Since his early days with the Thunder, he hadn’t consistently played off the ball. Embracing this role led to a dramatic improvement in his shooting—he’s now hitting 43.4% from three-point range. If he maintains this form, it could be the first season in his career where his three-point percentage surpasses 40%.
This role shift not only gives Harden cleaner looks but also lightens his workload. His isolation plays have become more efficient, and BD Cricket reporters note a ripple effect on Kawhi Leonard’s game. Kawhi’s dribble and ball-handling frequency have dropped, allowing him to conserve energy and play more freely. As Tyronn Lue put it, this is the brilliance of Harden—relieving pressure from Kawhi and George, so they no longer need to create every shot themselves.
Paul George, too, has benefited. Like Kawhi, his ball-handling responsibilities have declined. Last season, George averaged 20 half-court initiations per game, a career high. This season, it’s down to 13. The result? A significant drop in his turnover rate. He’s now posting just a 10.1% turnover rate—the lowest since joining the Clippers and the second lowest of his entire career.
Even Westbrook, who moved to the bench as the sixth man, has undergone a transformation. Playing more minutes with the second unit, his turnover numbers have dropped notably. Before the lineup change, Westbrook’s passing turnover rate stood at 4.2%, the second highest in the league. Since becoming a bench player, that number has shrunk to 1.8%. With fewer minutes, he’s shifted his focus to defense, bringing added energy to the floor.
The Clippers’ new-look squad even faced the Knicks both before and after the changes. Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo commented on how stark the difference was, noting the Clippers now feel like a completely retooled team. As the saying goes, success favors the bold. BD Cricket users agree that today’s Clippers are no longer flying under the radar—they’re a Western Conference powerhouse ready to make noise.