Below is a list of all qualifying half-court play types (isos, PNR ball handler, off-ball screens, post-ups) the Clippers have used with at least 1 possession per game. The list is sorted by points per possession. Note that it’s still rather early in the season — some plays may not have enough data to qualify, and random noise is very likely to be present.
| Play type | Possessions per game | Points per possession |
|---|---|---|
| James Harden Iso | 2.5 | 1.14 |
| Paul George PNR Ball Handler | 4.9 | 1.13 |
| Bones Hyland PNR Ball Handler | 2.8 | 1.07 |
| Ivica Zubac Post-up | 1.2 | 1.05 |
| Paul George Off-Ball Screen | 2.3 | 1.05 |
| Kawhi Leonard Iso | 3.3 | 1.04 |
| Kawhi Leonard PNR Ball Handler | 4.0 | 0.98 |
| James Harden PNR Ball Handler | 5.5 | 0.97 |
| Kawhi Leonard Post-up | 1.6 | 0.96 |
| Paul George Iso | 3.8 | 0.93 |
| Russell Westbrook Iso | 2.1 | 0.82 |
| Kawhi Leonard Off-Ball Screen | 1.8 | 0.76 |
| Norman Powell PNR Ball Handler | 1.4 | 0.73 |
| Russell Westbrook PNR Ball Handler | 2.1 | 0.67 |
| Bones Hyland Iso | 1.2 | 0.58 |
Some notes:
- Many of the most common Clippers plays are rather inefficient
- The most common Iso play used by the Clippers is a Paul George Iso (0.93 ppp)
- The most common PNR play used by the Clippers is a James Harden PNR (0.97 ppp)
- The most common Post-up play used by the Clippers is a Kawhi Leonard Post-up (0.96 ppp)
- Westbrook does not look good
- If we exclude the 1 possession per game requirement, the most efficient play is actually a Paul George Post-up (1.47 points per possession on 0.9 possessions per game)
Sourced from https://www.nba.com/stats
The most cancerous possessions last night were the ones where it was Kawhi posting up for 15 seconds, with Harden and WB sitting off-ball in the corner.
Why play WB and Harden at the same time (we know it doesn’t work) but then not even have one of them touch the ball? They both suck off the ball, it’s why the starting lineup was changed in the first place. But Ty thinks it’s good enough to close?
Kawhi was ball hogging last night in the worst possible way. Absolute black hole on offense. Stats will say he had a good game but I think he was too upset about the Dallas game where he sucked ass and figured he would just force shots up now
Love Russ but fuck me Ty is dumb af to keep him out there with Harden when it’s proven they don’t mesh. It’s like these dumbasses didn’t watch the dumpster fire that was Russ & Lebron trying to mesh on the Lakers.
The issue is that Harden has to pick his spots much more these days because of reduced burst
It’s not nearly as simple as “give the ball to Harden and he can do what he did in Houston again” even if the efficiency is similar on vastly less volume
Makes one think
As a nuggets fan seeing Bones iso as last puts a smile on my face, he could’ve had it all as a Reggie Jackson type for us but had his lil fit and wanted out.
Bones was getting traded anyways. He doesn’t fit what Booth is typically looking for.
That’s why he is the system. Makes sense.
You’re telling me the most efficient play isn’t harden making tiny dribbles for 23 seconds of the shot clock before passing it to someone who has to take an emergency heave?
Sixers fans who keep parroting this are so dumb, that would be maybe 1-2 possessions per game after a broken play. He spoonfed Embiid the MVP last year lol
Harden iso was literally the most efficient play in the history of basketball over his prime, wasn’t it (as far as points per possession)? Not surprising he’s still effective there even as he’s diminished.
Ooph, that’d require a very specific definition of “play”. I’d say it’s probably about 1.12 per play over the last 5 years, which I’m pretty sure must easily the highest anyone ever had for isolation plays defined this way (with high volume), but overall around average scoring in NBA over those years.
He had 1.22 ppp in isolations in his MVP season, which is probably what he is referring to.