Clippers still seek to improve defense

It seems as if the Clippers play good defense in some games and not so good in other games

And it seems as if the Clippers play good defense in certain parts of a game and not so good in other parts of the game.

With that being the case, Clippers Coach Doc Rivers was asked if that’s how his team will play defense all season.

“Well, I hope not,” Rivers said. “But my guess is probably, yeah. But I think we’re getting closer. You can see it every night.”

The Clippers allow 103.3 points per game, the fourth-most in the NBA.

Rivers seems to enjoy talking about Jamal Crawford’s improved defensive play.

Crawford is more known for his offense than his defense.

But Rivers says Crawford has been trying to be a better team defender.

“From a coaching standpoint, it’s nice when guys are hugging him on the bench because of a defensive play,” Rivers said. “That warms my heart.”

Rivers laughed.

“He’s never going to be a shut-down guy,” Rivers said about Crawford. “But he can be a team defender and he’s doing it.”

Rivers said at times he’ll ask Chris Paul, Darren Collison, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin to be a “shut-down” defender.

“But other than that, I’m never going to ask anyone else,” Rivers said. “I’m going to ask them to be in the right spot. And if you’re in the right spot defensively, then your team is a good defensive team.”

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broderick.turner@latimes.com

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