National Basketball Association

LA Clippers' best new lineups for different situations

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The LA Clippers have more versatility than ever, so here’s a look at some different lineups with their new team to provide anything from instant offense and spacing to oversized bully-ball.

Oct 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LA Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) walks on the court with guard Jamal Crawford (11) and guard CJ Wilcox (30) during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

The LA Clippers‘ core is back for another year, and the bench has been reloaded. The team is full of savvy veterans eager to earn a role in Doc Rivers’ rotation. Players like Alan Anderson, Raymond Felton, Marreese Speights and Brandon Bass offer lineup versatility, and afford Doc the opportunity to keep opposing coaches off guard with his substitutions.

I’m very curious to see the lineups that Doc starts to favor as the season progresses, and wouldn’t mind seeing him adopt a similar approach to the Golden State Warriors. The Dubs will have two of their best four players on the floor at any given time.

This staggered approach with Blake Griffin and Chris Paul would do a lot for the Clippers’ bench play, and it’s something we know the team wants to utilize more in 2016-17.

So, let’s look at some of the lineups Doc could use this year, sticking with that staggered approach. We’ll start with a five-man group they can use to provide instant offense and spacing.

Oct 18, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center Marreese Speights (5) during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Instant offense

PG: Raymond Felton, SG: J.J. Redick, SF: Jamal Crawford, PF: Blake Griffin, C: Marreese Speights.

Felton is a downhill guard and an excellent finisher at the rim. He drives hard down the lane, drawing defenses in with layups and a proven floater. Add a talented post scorer next to him in Blake Griffin that he can dump the ball off to, and defenses will collapse. Surround Felton and Griffin with three, quick draw, eager shooters, and you get instant offense.

Doc has shown a pension for sliding Crawford down to the three (he played small forward 49 percent of the time last season). This lineup also allows him to use J.J. as a spot up shooter, giving him valuable minutes on offense while simultaneously giving him a break from running around so many screens.

With this group, the Clippers can sacrifice defense for offense and try to outscore their opponent, without it being too much of a problem in controlled bursts. But what if you want to shutdown your opponent; frustrate them, and get inside their heads?

Oct 18, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and center DeAndre Jordan (6) celebrate during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive minded

PG: Chris Paul, SG: Austin Rivers, SF: Luc Mbah a Moute, PF: Brandon Bass, C: DeAndre Jordan.

Chris Paul has been the NBA All-Defensive First Team point guard six times in his career, including last season.

DeAndre Jordan is a two-time reigning member of the same team, too.

Austin Rivers is a defensive pest, Mbah a Moute is an elite defender, and Bass is no slouch in that department, either.

This clip to show Bass’ pick-and-roll defense against Evan Turner, from our very own Mohammad Dakhil’s recent column, highlights just that:

This group is big, strong, intimidating (just look at Bass’ arms), and aggressive. They could shut down players at every position, imposing their will on the game. Paul also plays mind games with the best of them. That coupled with the frustration of struggling to score could lead this group to break down opponents mentally.

This group won’t be an offensive juggernaut, but they should still score effectively. They could run a watered down version of the high low pick-and-roll with Bass subbing in for Blake. And Rivers has steadily improved on offense since joining the Clips, even shooting 39 percent from three after the All-Star break last season.

Doc could go small with this group as well by subbing Redick in for Bass and sliding Rivers and Mbah a Moute down a spot.

Next, which small forward should join the starters to close win-or-lose situations?

Oct 18, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Alan Anderson (9) during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

When a game is on the line

PG: Chris Paul, SG: J.J. Redick, SF: Alan Anderson, PF: Blake Griffin, C: DeAndre Jordan.

A few seconds are left on the clock and the LA Clippers need a basket. This is the lineup I’d like to see in that situation; it’s the starting five plus Alan Anderson.

Anderson has shown during the preseason that he is skilled at drawing fouls. He’s also a solid defender, a savvy veteran, and a good enough three-point shooter (especially in the space created by this talented offense). If Anderson can earn Doc’s trust, I expect to see him on the floor to end games to avoid defenders sagging off Mbah a Moute, clogging the paint or doubling others.

The other four are all the best at their position on the team. A case could be made for Marreese Speights replacing Jordan to add more shooting, but I’d rather have DJ’s put back ability and far superior defense to avoid falling apart at the other end of the floor. And at the end of the day, the high low pick-and-roll CP3, BG and DJ run is the Clippers’ best play.

Rivers would sub in for Redick if a late stop was needed instead.

Finally, the Clippers going as big as possible.

Dec 19, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) shakes hands with center DeAndre Jordan (6) before playing the Houston Rockets in the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Go BIG or go home

PG: Jamal Crawford, SG: Wesley Johnson, SF: Blake Griffin, PF: Marreese Speights, C: DeAndre Jordan.

Going small is all the rage in the modern NBA. And while the Clippers do have the pieces to field a solid small-ball group, I’d like to see them buck the trend and go as big as possible at times (send out the lumbering giants!)

This is a lineup we will probably never see, but, boy, would it be fun.

Crawford would be the 6’5 point guard, but Blake would bring the ball up, acting as a point-forward from the three. Blake is athletic enough that, even at 6’10”, he could keep up with some of the leagues small forwards on defense.