Although the LA Clippers believed they could be an offensive powerhouse with the addition of Bradley Beal, that was never going to be the reality. In fact, their age would have kept them far from it, and because of Beal’s tragic hip injury, the Clippers will end up giving the minutes he would have received to defensive-minded players, elevating the team out of the bottom five defensive ratings in the league.
The Clippers’ defensive rating, as it stands, is 118.7, which is precisely the fifth-worst spot in the NBA. This may not be rock bottom to the rest of the league, as they are still a few spots away from 30, but to themselves, they are below it with incoming disappointment in various aspects.