Advertisement

Clippers looking for their three-point shooting touch

Jamal Crawford (11) hasn't been matching his three-point accuracy from last season, but teammate Chris Paul says the Clippers' long-range shooting isn't an issue.
Jamal Crawford (11) hasn’t been matching his three-point accuracy from last season, but teammate Chris Paul says the Clippers’ long-range shooting isn’t an issue.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Share

Sure, it’s early in the season and the Clippers are playing some of the best basketball in the NBA.

But if there is one thing they could improve on, it’s three-point shooting.

After their first three games, the Clippers were making just 27.8% of their three-point shots, ranking 26th among the NBA’s 30 teams.

Guard J.J. Redick, who led the league in three-point accuracy last season (47.5%), is off to a poor start, making just 27.3% of his shots from beyond the arc.

Advertisement

Jamal Crawford, who made 34% of his long-distance shots last season, was making just 11.1% before the Clippers played the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night at Staples Center.

But Chris Paul said it’s not an issue.

“No concern whatsoever,” said Paul, who is making 40% of his three-point shots. “For us, we’re building for more. We want to keep our defense going. We know that we can score points. But if you look at it, 82 games, what, we got three games and that’s the pool we’re pulling from right now?”

Well, yes, Paul was told. He smiled.

He sees other things the Clippers can improve upon.

“Definitely, our execution can definitely get better,” Paul said. “We’ve got to keep defending and keep rebounding. I think for us the biggest thing is all about the consistency.”

Tough on defense

Again, it’s early, but the Clippers have been one of the better defensive teams in the league.

They are allowing 93 points per game, the third-best defense in the NBA. They are holding teams to just 42.6% shooting, eighth-best in the NBA.

Advertisement

“Last year we changed our defense and I didn’t think we adapted to it very well early on,” Clippers Coach Doc Rivers said. “I think as the year went on, I think … we ended up well. It just took us a long time to buy into it. This year, the benefit of it, even though we still have a lot of new guys, they came into the season already having bought in, so it’s a little easier for us.”

broderick.turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @BA_Turner

Advertisement