Clippers Change the Starters After Up and Down Play

·58 min·5 clips

Why did the Clippers bench John Collins, their third-best player, for Chris Dunn?

The episode begins with the hosts apologizing for the delay since their last podcast, citing busy schedules. They immediately dive into the Clippers' recent win against the Kings, which featured a lineup change: John Collins was benched, and Chris Dunn started alongside Kawhi Leonard, Derrick Jones Jr., Brook Lopez, and Darius Garland. The hosts debate whether this change is justified, with arguments about Dunn's defensive energy versus Collins' talent. They discuss the team's performance since March 1st, noting a mix of wins against weaker teams and losses that have dampened playoff optimism. A significant portion focuses on Darius Garland's addition, praising his three-point shooting and spontaneity but expressing concern about his small size being targeted in the playoffs, especially against teams like the Spurs. The conversation shifts to young players: Benedict Mathurin's role as a sixth-man scorer, Jordan Miller's emergence as a connector piece, and Kobe Sanders' surprising three-point shooting making Nico Batum obsolete. They evaluate Kawhi Leonard's offensive season, possibly his best as a Clipper, and his MVP/All-NBA chances. The hosts review the center rotation, mentioning Brook Lopez, Yannick Nzosa's injury, and Isaiah Jackson. They speculate on the Thunder potentially manipulating matchups to push the Clippers into the play-in. The episode ends with hopes for the team to make the playoffs for young player development, despite low expectations for a deep run.

As heard by us

A measured Clippers review on recovery from 6-21, postseason reps, and the limits of their matchup ceiling.

Shapon and Rob frame the Clippers' postseason push around a clear question: whether a team that once fell to 6-21 can make its recovery mean more than simply reaching the playoffs.

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Why you'd press play

You get April Clippers stakes, a 6-21 memory still in the room, and a playoff ceiling the hosts do not pretend is high.

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