Assist Percentage
The Clippers only have one player in the top 120 (approximately one-third of the league) in assist percentage from last season while the Lakers have four players who were in the upper third of the NBA.
The Clippers:
- Lou Williams: 33 assist percentage (24th in the NBA)
The Lakers:
- LeBron James: 39.4 assist percentage (9th in the NBA)
- Rajon Rondo: 35.5 assist percentage (15th in the NBA)
- Alex Caruso: 19.7 assist percentage (105th in the NBA)
- Anthony Davis: 19 assist percentage (116th in the NBA)
Here’s the Clippers projected starting lineup:
- Patrick Beverley
- Landry Shamet
- Kawhi Leonard
- Paul George (once he returns from injury)
- Ivica Zubac
Nobody in that unit is a playmaker. Beverley leads that group with 3.5 career assists per game.
Leonard and George are great offensive players. Both can score as a pick and roll ball handler, out of isolation sets, and from beyond the arc. Leonard and George can get their own shot, but neither has run an offense or had to be the primary creator for their squad.
Last season Kawhi played alongside Kyle Lowry, one of the best passers in the league (8.7 APG, 3rd in the NBA last season). Similarly, George suited up with Russell Westbrook during the previous season (10.7 APG, 1st in the NBA last season).
Basketball is a team sport, and while it’s terrific that Leonard and George can score, there’s no evidence to show either player can get his teammates involved. Next season the Clippers offense could come down to Leonard and George taking turns shooting the ball while their teammates stand still and look. If that happens, LA’s other squad will become predictable and easy to stop.
The Clippers do have the soon to be 33-year-old Lou Williams on the roster. He’s a great passer, but he’s only good for around 25 minutes per game and against bigger team’s he becomes unplayable because he’s a defensive liability.
The Clippers don’t have a single man on the team with a career average of five assists per game or higher. The 2009 Lakers are the only team to win a championship during the modern era, without having a player average at least five assists per game throughout the regular season. That year Kobe Bryant averaged 4.9 APG.
Passing is going to be a significant issue for the Clippers during the upcoming season.
Conversely, the Lakers will be a great passing team. LeBron James and Rajon Rondo have better court vision than any other duo in the NBA. LBJ and Rondo can each slip the ball through the tiniest cracks in an offense, hitting their man for a rhythm jumper or a flush at the rim.
The Purple and Gold will also get excellent auxiliary playmaking from Alex Caruso and Anthony Davis, who each have better passing chops than any Clippers starter.
James and Rondo are going to set up their teammates for easy buckets throughout the season. Leonard and George are both going to average 25 to 30 points per game, but how will the rest of their teammates fair without a real playmaker?