James Harden of the Clippers tries to shoot over Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma Thunder during a recent game at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
The Los Angeles Clippers have opened the 2024-25 NBA season with troubling signs, averaging 17 turnovers per game, among the highest in the league. With a 3-4 record and a disappointing 1-4 mark at home at press time, the team's early struggles have raised questions about their playoff prospects and their ability to compete with the league's top teams. As the season progresses, both fans and analysts will be left wondering if there's any light at the end of the Intuit Dome tunnel should these issues persist.
James Harden has emerged as the Clippers' top performer, averaging 21.8 points and 10.8 assists per game. Despite his individual success, he remains confident in the team's potential to improve. "I got all the faith and confidence in these guys to do what they do at a high level... I'm trying to win," he said after a recent home game. However, difficulties on the offensive end have continued, with the team averaging just 108.3 points per game and shooting only 33% from three-point range.
A bright spot has been Norman Powell the former UCLA Bruin who stepped into a starting role this season and now leads the team in scoring with 25 points per game. While Powell's contributions have been valuable, they haven't been enough to fully turn the team's fortunes around.
In the paint, starting center Ivica Zubac has been a dominant force, averaging 17 points and 13 rebounds per game, including 3.8 offensive boards. Despite the roster's challenges and the fact that they are not at full strength, the Clippers continue to compete with the tenacity that reflects head coach Tyronn Lue's persona. After their first home win on Monday night, Coach Lue reiterated the team's mindset despite the adversity. "We've been playing well at home, playing hard, and competing. Coming up short for four games was tough, and our guys were disappointed. But I told them, just stick with it."
The key question remains. What is the Clippers' true ceiling, and how long will their fan base continue to support Steve Ballmer's vision, especially with the new Intuit Dome and heightened expectations for success? Can fan interest endure amid the team's struggles? In the past, sharing Crypto.com Arena with the Lakers helped temper expectations, as the presence of the league's marquee franchise cast a long shadow. Now, with a standalone venue the Clippers need to win games now to try to fill the empty seats at the Intuit Dome. The empty seats sends a clearer message about the team's challenges. With star player Kawhi Leonard still sidelined and fans adjusting to their new home, the atmosphere has undeniably shifted. The Clippers now face mounting pressure to perform consistently, even without being at full strength.
The Clippers travel to Sacramento to face the Kings on Friday and return home to face the Toronto Raptors on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. They are on the road again starting Monday for three games before returning home against the Jazz on November17, at 6 p.m. These games should help them find opportunities to build momentum in November.
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