J.J. Redick says Oklahoma City’s size advantage really showed Wednesday in loss to Thunder

J.J. Redick

J.J. Redick/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are not a great rebounding team. Statistics bear that out, as they are currently 21st in the league in that department. They have been without their second-leading rebounder – Blake Griffin – since Christmas, so that exacerbates the situation.

The Clippers’ struggles on the boards were on full display Wednesday night when they were outrebounded 52-29 in their 120-108 loss at Oklahoma City. DeAndre Jordan, who averages 14 rebounds, had a season-low seven.

J.J. Redick said the Thunder’s size advantage really showed.

“It impacted the game, for sure,” he said. “Even just their wings, they were always crashing the offensive glass. We’re playing small right now and DJ (Jordan) is playing help (defense) a lot, so it’s tough, for sure.

“We’ve got to do a better job on that weak side. It’s the offensive rebounds, yeah, but it’s the 50-50 balls, too. It felt like the majority of the game they were getting every 50-50 ball.”

The Thunder (44-40) had 10 offensive rebounds, the Clippers (41-22) just two.

 

Five things to take from Clippers’ 120-108 loss at Oklahoma City

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki). Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) passes around Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams, right front, during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, March 9, 2016.

Chris Paul, 3, of the Clippers passes the ball as he’s being hounded by Steven Adams and Russell Westbrook of the Thunder/AP photo by Sue Ogrocki

 

– Remember how OKC’s Russell Westbrook went 0-for-6 from the field during the fourth quarter of the Clippers’ 103-98 come-from-behind victory over the Thunder on March 2 at Staples Center? Westbrook sure did. He scored 25 points, doled out 20 assists and pulled down 11 rebounds in this rematch. He became the first to have a triple-double consisting of at least 25 points, 20 assists and 10 rebounds since the Lakers’ Magic Johnson did it in 1998.

Coach Doc Rivers and starting guards Chris Paul and J.J. Redick all said that their team did not play well at all on defense. Rivers gave credit to Westbrook, but also intimated his team did not make it tough on him to do what he did. “He was great,” Rivers said. “I mean, he didn’t have a lot of resistance, though, you know?”

– Rivers had another interesting comment when asked about his team’s focus, or lack thereof. “Tonight, for whatever reason, I just didn’t feel like we had the right focus or spirit, or whatever, and I want to give them credit,” he said. “They were better prepared than us tonight and that’s on me.” It makes one wonder how the Clippers (41-22) could have been ill-prepared for a game of such magnitude. A victory would have pulled them within a half-game of the third-place Thunder (44-40) in the Western Conference standings. With the loss, the fourth-place Clippers are now 2 1/2 back of OKC.

– With forwards Blake Griffin and Luc Mbah a Moute both out, the Clippers were outrebounded 52-29. DeAndre Jordan went into the game averaging 14.1 rebounds, and he had a season-low seven. The last time Jordan had fewer than 10 rebounds was Jan. 22, when he had eight in a 116-88 victory at New York.

– One has to wonder how much longer coach Rivers is going to give Wes Johnson the green light – especially from distance. Johnson shot just 1 of 6 from the field in this one, 0 of 3 from 3-point range. Johnson over his past seven games has made just 5 of 29 from beyond the arc. That is 17.2 percent. Johnson is 14 of 59 overall during the same period for an absolutely woeful 23.7 percent. On the season, Johnson is shooting 39.9 percent overall, 32.3 percent from deep.

OKC’s Russell Westbrook makes life miserable for the Clippers in 120-108 Thunder victory

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, center, shoots between Clippers forward Wesley Johnson, left,, center DeAndre Jordan, rear, and guard Austin Rivers during the third quarter of Wednesday's game. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City goes up for a shot as Wes Johnson (33) and Austin Rivers (25) of the Clippers appear helpless do do anything about it during the Thunder’s 120-108 victory over the Clippers on Wednesday night in Oklahoma City/AP photo by Sue Ogrocki

 

Clippers coach Doc Rivers wasn’t pleased with his team’s defense in its 120-108 loss Wednesday night at Oklahoma City.

“I thought our defense overall from the tip was bad,” Rivers said. “One of the rare games where we just didn’t establish ourselves defensively. I thought it bled over to our offense, so give them credit. I thought they moved the ball, they trusted their offense the entire game, made the extra passes. But I just thought we were horrible defensively tonight. It happens.”

Point guard Chris Paul agreed.

“We gave up 39 (points) the first quarter,” he said. “Sixty-something (64) in the first half. We just never impacted the game defensively. I feel like Russ went wherever he wanted to go, and that’s on me. But we’ve got to be better.”

“Russ” is OKC point guard Russell Westbrook. He had 25 points, 20 assists and 11 rebounds. He became the first player to have a triple-double consisting of at least 25 points, 20 assists and 10 rebounds since Magic Johnson did it for the Lakers in 1988. He did have seven turnovers, but at the end of the day, they were of no consequence.

Perhaps even a better defensive effort would have been insufficient to slow a Westbrook who choked during the fourth quarter of the Clippers’ stunning comeback victory over the Thunder the previous Wednesday at Staples Center. OKC led by 17 entering the fourth quarter, but the Clippers won 103-98. Westbrook shot 0 of 6 in that fourth quarter.

For a guy who plays mad as it is, one can’t be surprised he came out with a vengeance in this one.

The third-place Thunder (44-20) now lead the Clippers (41-22) by 2 1/2 games in the Western Conference standings.

Clippers don’t have a comeback in them this time, fall at OKC

Jeff Green

Jeff Green led the Clippers with 23 points on Wednesday at Oklahoma City/Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Clippers

 

The Clippers didn’t have a comeback in them this time. A week after they came from 17 points down after three quarters to earn a five-point victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center, the Clippers took on the Thunder on Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.

The Thunder led by 19 points with 6:35 to play and the Clippers quickly whittled six points off that to trail by 13. But OKC eventually prevailed 120-108 in the pivotal Western Conference game at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

The victory gave third-place OKC (44-20) some breathing room as it now leads the Clippers (41-22) by 2 1/2 games in the conference standings.

Jeff Green led the Clippers with 23 points on 10 of 13 shooting, J.J. Redick scored 22, DeAndre Jordan had 18 points but only seven rebounds – well below his season average of 14.1 – and Chris Paul had 12  points, 16 assists and five steals. Jamal Crawford led the reserves with 16 points and Cole Aldrich had 10 points and six rebounds.

The two-headed monster of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook was just mean. Durant had 30 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Westbrook had 25 points, 20 assists and 11 rebounds. However, Westbrook did have seven turnovers and Durant committed six.

The Thunder outrebounded the Clippers by a whopping 52-29 count.

 

 

OKC’s Dion Waiters leaves team after brother killed in Philadelphia

Dion Waiters

Dion Waiters/Photo courtesy of Oklahoma City Thunder

 

Oklahoma City guard Dion Waiters left the team Wednesday after finding out his younger brother had been killed in an act of violence on Tuesday in their hometown of Philadelphia.

Waiters won’t be with the Thunder (43-20) when they host the Clippers (41-21) on Wednesday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena in downtown Oklahoma City.

Waiters, 24, is in his fourth season in the league. He is averaging 9.6 points while starting 12 of 63 games in which he has played.

 

 

VIDEO: Clippers’ J.J. Redick wants no part of this Kevin Durant dunk

The Clippers rallied from 17 points down after three quarters to emerge with a 103-98 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday at Staples Center. Since the game belonged to the Thunder until the fourth quarter, they had some outstanding moments. One can bet the Clippers’ J.J. Redick would rather not think about this one. Check out OKC’s Kevin Durant throwing down and dirty on Redick in the second quarter when the Thunder were in control: