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The Los Angeles Clippers looked like the best team in the NBA for a few months earlier this season, but are now going through a bit of a rough patch. On the Ticket and The Truth podcast, Paul Pierce attributed their recent struggles to missing Russell Westbrook's leadership
"They don't got no leadership out there right now, with Westbrook out,” Pierce said. “People don't understand how big Westbrook is for that team, like who's the voice, you got leadership on the sideline, but you know you got to have leadership in that locker room, in the game, on the bench right there."
Westbrook fractured his left hand in a game against the Washington Wizards on March 1 and has been on the sidelines since then. Pierce says that while the Clippers have a lot of star power with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and James Harden, not having that leader in Westbrook is hurting them in a big way.
"Like Westbrook, since he went down, think about this, who’s going to say something? Like I respect Kawhi, and I respect where Paul George is coming from, and then I respect Harden, but the loudest voice in that room is Westbrook," Pierce continued. "Because he shows the most passion, he shows the most energy... Paul George is like, 'We ain't playing with no hustle, we ain't playing with no heart,' every time we see Westbrook play, that's what he brings."
(starts at 40:31 mark):
Westbrook has now missed the last 11 games and the Clippers have gone 6-5 in that time. Two of those wins have come against the lowly Portland Trail Blazers and they just haven't looked right. Missing Westbrook's leadership might have something to do with it
Gilbert Arenas shared that Tyronn Lue told him Westbrook is the leader of the Clippers. Arenas claimed Lue also said they never had a leader before the former MVP arrived in 2023, which is rather alarming if true.
Westbrook is averaging just 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game this season, but those numbers don't show just how impactful he has been. Fortunately for the Clippers, the nine-time All-Star could be back for Monday's game against the Indiana Pacers, as per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Paul George Said The Clippers Don't Have An Identity
During this rough stretch for the Clippers, the most disappointing result was a defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks. Following that loss, George said the Clippers don't have an identity.
"I mean that's what we're appearing to look like, which is not good. We want to be a team that's consistent and we want to establish an identity. I've always spoken about having an identity and I think it's extremely important. Right now, I don't think we have an identity."
Well, the Clippers need to figure things out soon. Their struggles aren't entirely down to Westbrook's absence and his return won't magically fix everything.
They are currently fourth in the West with a 44-25 record and are coming under pressure from the New Orleans Pelicans, who have a 43-27 record. The Clippers were at one stage fighting for the top seed in the Conference and might end up not even having home-court advantage in the first round unless they get back on track.
More must-reads:
- Clippers stars don't show up in ugly Game 3 loss as Mavericks take 2-1 lead
- Pelicans' Zion Williamson could return during playoffs
- The 'Most points in a playoff game by team' quiz
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