3 strengths of the LA Clippers that could be key to their success in the 2021-22 NBA season

It was a record-breaking 2020-21 NBA campaign for the LA Clippers, as they reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time. With the core of their roster still intact, they will look to replicate the same in the 2022 playoffs.

The LA Clippers were the comeback kings in the 2021 playoffs, winning consecutive series after going 2-0 down. Unfortunately, they were not third-time lucky after going down 2-0 to the Phoenix Suns in the conference finals. The Suns eventually closed out the series in Game 6 to win the Western Conference.

Perhaps things could have been different if the LA Clippers had Kawhi Leonard on the floor. The two-time NBA champion hurt his knee in Game 4 of the conference semi-finals, and was unavailable for the rest of the postseason.

Heading into the 2021-22 NBA season, the LA Clippers will have to play without Leonard for a while. That's because the Klaw is recovering after undergoing surgery to repair a partial tear in his ACL.

The 2021-22 season could be an exciting one for the Clippers, going by their offseason moves. Several other franchises have also gone all out to bolster their squads. So it'll be intriguing to see how the LA Clippers fare without Leonard.

On that note, here are three strengths of the LA Clippers that could be key to their success in the 2021-22 NBA season.

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#1 The LA Clippers are defense-inclined

Kawhi Leonard (#2) of the LA Clippers

The LA Clippers are not the most cohesive unit in defense, but have great individual defensive players. They ranked eighth in defensive rating, giving up the fourth-fewest points to the opposition.

Although they lost Patrick Beverley, a decent defensive guard, in the offseason, they have able players to fill the void and be more productive at both ends of the court. The LA Clippers also brought in Eric Bledsoe, a far better player in offense than Beverley, and also commits to his defensive duties.

Losing Leonard could hugely impact the LA Clippers' defensive rating. He is regarded as one of the best wing defenders, leading the Clippers in steals (1.6 per game) and finishing the season with a Defensive Box Plus/Minus of 1.0.

While the LA Clippers are missing some key pieces in defense, they remain a solid defensive unit. They have individual talents who can make a difference at the defensive end of the court.

#2 The LA Clippers' ability to play five-out offense

The LA Clippers

Size does not exactly favor the LA Clippers, with 7' 0" Ivan Zubac being their tallest player. But he did not get a lot of starts, especially in the playoffs. Nicolas Batum, a traditional small forward, was their starting center in most of their playoffs fixtures.

The use of a smaller center has its shortcomings in defense, but it spreads the court in offense and gives the explosive guards enough room to attack the rim. Generally called the five-out offense, every player is camped on the perimeter to knock down threes or make cuts to the basket.

That tactic was especially effective against the Utah Jazz in the conference semi-finals. The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert, was forced out of his natural position, and was not so much of a great defender in those situations. Gobert excels as a rim protector, but seemed uncomfortable when forced out to defend close to the perimeter.

Some NBA teams have built their teams around big men who are slow to move their feet. Playing the five-out technique against them could be beneficial, especially if every player is a decent shooter from the deep. There is a likelihood that the big men might be slow to close out or not be fast enough to read cuts to the basket. So the LA Clippers could capitalize on that.

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#3 Three-point shooting

Kawhi Leonard (#2) and Marcus Morris Sr. (#8) of the LA Clippers celebrate a three-point basket.

Going by numbers, the LA Clippers were the best three-point shooting team in the 2020-21 NBA season. They finished first in three-point shooting, and collectively shot 41.1% from beyond the arc.

Almost eight LA Clippers shot over 40% from the three-point range last season. Leonard came close to hitting the 40% mark, averaging 39.8% in 4.9 attempts.

Paul George had the most attempts for the LA Clippers, averaging 7.7 three-point attempts, and shooting an effective 41.1%. Terence Mann, Batum, Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard and Marcus Morris are the other players on that list.

Morris was tremendous in the 2021 playoffs, providing incredible floor spacing for the LA Clippers when alternating as a center. Although his three-point shooting percentage dropped, he was still a crucial player for the Clippers.

The Clippers still have seven of the eight 40% shooters on their roster, which could be key in the new season. Meanwhile, Mann could get more minutes following his impressive playoff outings.