Clippers return to their struggling ways rebounding against Miami

Clippers Coach Doc Rivers has said since the beginning of the season that if his players want to win a championship they need to improve on the boards.

The team is third-to-last in the league in rebounding, averaging only 40.9 a game.

Against the Miami Heat on Sunday, that hole was very evident. The Heat bested the Clippers on the boards, 46-27.

DeAndre Jordan, who is averaging a league-leading 13.5 rebounds a game this season, finished with only six on Sunday. Blake Griffin also grabbed only six boards.

Miami’s Hassan Whiteside had 16 rebounds, more than Jordan and Griffin combined.

“I thought we had very little impact on the ball all night,” Rivers said. “And their guards got to the paint, our bigs had to help, and usually when that happens you give up offensive rebounds.”

The Heat had 15 offensive rebounds. The Clippers had six.

Rivers was quick to say that Jordan should not receive the brunt of the blame for the Clippers’ off night.

“Not just DJ, I thought as a group we really lacked energy,” Rivers said. “I thought especially from mid-second quarter on, I never thought we could get going. You could see it. I almost tore my rotator cup trying to get our guys to go. It was one of those nights where we just didn’t have it.”