Unafraid of Chronic Concern, Paul George Divulges Clippers’ Biggest Goal Before Playoffs

Just a few weeks ago, the Los Angeles Clippers were competing for the first seed in the Western Conference. However, a string of injuries and inconsistent performances has seen them drop to the No. 4 seed. But it was Sunday’s 110-93 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, who were playing without their All-Star guard Trae Young, that prompted Paul George to question the Clippers’ offensive identity. However, PG’s frustration, coupled with coach Ty Lue’s offense scheme, turned out to be a recipe for success for the struggling Clippers.

PG-13 popped off in their last two victories against the Portland Trail Blazers, scoring 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting in a 116–103 Clippers win on Wednesday. He then followed that impressive performance with a better one on Friday, tallying 31 points on 10-of-14 shooting in a 125–117 Clippers win, marking his first 30-point game since Feb. 10 and extending his streak of at least 20 points to nine consecutive games. Aside from Ty Lue’s stress on increasing PG’s on-ball reps, PG credited his improved health, which allowed him to be as aggressive as he was.

“My body’s just been feeling great, which is allowing me to be aggressive and take the bumps and live in the paint,” said George of his hot streak. Injuries have been one of the biggest concerns in PG’s storied career, often derailing his chances to win a championship. Last year, this week, he suffered a season-ending injury after OKC Thunder’s Lu Dort crashed into his right knee. But that’s not where his focus is right now.

Currently, he is locked in on being healthy and just balling. “Like I said, we just stay healthy, to your point, all that s— is in the past. And I mean … just focus on moving forward,” Paul told The Athletic’s Law Murray. Speaking of injuries and staying healthy, the Clippers are expecting some more good news on that front.

Russell Westbrook set to take the count soon

Russell Westbrook, who has been acting as the Sixth Man on the team since Harden’s arrival, hasn’t played since March 1, after he fractured his hand and subsequently underwent surgery to correct it. The Clippers have stagnated without Westbrook, going 7-5 in the 12 games that he missed. The impact of his absence was particularly noticeable on the bench. The LA Clippers ranked 10th in scoring with 36.6 total points per game and 47.7% efficiency from the floor among reserves. However, in Westbrook’s absence, their production dipped significantly, with the bench now averaging just 31.5 points on 43.4% shooting from the field, slipping to the 16th rank in the league.

However, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Westbrook is expected to return to the rotation next week, maybe as early as Monday against the Indiana Pacers. With 13 games remaining until the playoffs, his return would give him ample time to shake off the rust as the team prepares to avenge last season’s first-round exit.

Read More: “Comes From Russell Westbrook..”: Clippers Starlet Confides In Vets Despite Worrying Team Form Before Playoffs