Los Angeles Clippers Looking Like Title Pretenders and Sunday NBA Takeaways

The focus of the Memphis Grizzlies' 107-91 mauling of the Los Angeles Clippers would normally be on the victor.

But the Grizzlies' dominant win didn't teach us anything new about the team that has been tearing up the Western Conference for the first month of the season. The contest did, however, offer another piece of damning evidence in the case against the Clippers.

Los Angeles might not be a contender.

Marc Gasol continued his season-long demolition tour, hanging 30 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks on the Clippers. It was a brilliant performance on both ends from the man who's played the center position as well as anyone (defense counts, DeMarcus Cousins supporters) this season.

Gasol, even in his newly trimmed-down form was perfectly happy to mix it up in an ultra-physical affair. Despite his terrific line, the big Spaniard still saw room for improvement:

Marc: 'I felt like we should have had more assists with the way they play.' Marc Gasol just subtweeted the Clippers on local TV.

- Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) November 24, 2014

And that's where we shift the focus away from Memphis and onto Los Angeles, which put forth yet another disjointed defensive effort. Gasol's comments served a dual purpose.

He was trying to keep his team, which has every reason to be full of itself, from getting too content. Even big wins like this one could have been bigger, he's trying to say.

Secondly, Gasol was calling attention to the Clippers' woeful help defense, which has been a major disappointment this season. Memphis knows it could have gotten even easier looks by moving the ball more efficiently. Somehow, its 20 assists felt like an underachievement.

Just finished Grizz-Clips. All hail Marc Gasol. Clips weak side rotations to rim on D were awful. Still no clue what purpose Turkoglu serves

- Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) November 24, 2014

It's a perplexing problem, as this same L.A. core posted a 102.1 defensive rating a year ago, good enough to finish in a seventh-place tie with the Grizzlies, per NBA.com. This season, the Clippers check in at No. 20 with a 104.7 rating.

It's hard to know the exact cause for this, and there's almost certainly more than just one. Matt Barnes' broken perimeter stroke has resulted in more minutes for Jamal Crawford, which essentially amounts to 4-on-5 basketball on defensive. In addition, Blake Griffin hasn't looked nearly as alert or mobile on either end this season.

Communication has been poor, as has been the team's general effort level. For evidence of that, look no further than the historically poor offensive rebounding numbers.

Only 1 team since 02-13 posted an off. rebounding rate < 20 (BOS at 19.7 in 11-12). Clippers are at 17.3 and have only 1 in 23 opps tonight.

- Kevin Arnovitz (@kevinarnovitz) November 24, 2014

After being out-rebounded by 20 on the night (including a minus-seven margin on the offensive boards), L.A. now ranks dead last in the NBA with an offensive rebound rate of 16.7 percent, per NBA.com.

To be fair, teams often punt on the offensive glass in the interest of getting back in transition. But the Clips clearly aren't defending this season, so it's hard to believe giving up on offensive boards is part of some grand plan.

If it is, the plan's not working.

Something just feels wrong about the Clippers, and playing against a Grizzlies team for whom everything looked so very right was a study in serious contrast.

The Clippers won 57 games last season, and it's difficult to believe an 7-5 start means imminent doom. But the Clips fancy themselves a title contender, and it doesn't take much slippage to make that belief unrealistic.

Less than halfway through a rough seven-game road trip, Los Angeles needs to either find a spark or risk returning home under .500. We'll soon see whether the Grizzlies' thorough beatdown serves as motivation or accelerates a tailspin.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers after losing in FedExForum: 'The Grizzlies seem to have that edge. They aren't messing around.'

- Ronald Tillery (@CAGrizBeat) November 24, 2014

The Clippers had better find their edge in a hurry. The West isn't getting softer any time soon.

Around the Association

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Baca Juga

Game of Inches

The Charlotte Hornets fell short against the Miami Heat by the slimmest of margins on Sunday, dropping a 94-93 decision that would have gone their way if an Al Jefferson tip-in at point-blank range had stayed down at the buzzer.

Mario Chalmers had a dozen of his 20 points in the fourth, and Chris Bosh's slick, fading left-shoulder turnaround from the right baseline gave the Heat a lead that would hold up through a costly turnover on their next possession. When Jefferson couldn't clean up Kemba Walker's shot at the buzzer, it was all over.

Heat 94 Hornets 93. That about sums it up. Jefferson misses a point blank but heavily contested tip in. http://ift.tt/1vh6dYU

- CBS Sports NBA (@CBSSportsNBA) November 24, 2014

Devastation was the prevailing mood for a Hornets team that played well enough to win, but couldn't close the deal against a Heat team missing Dwyane Wade for the sixth straight game.

Oh, and there may be trouble a-brewin' in Charlotte:

Lance Stephenson just walked off the court staring at his bench, holding his hands out like, 'Why didn't I get the ball?'

- Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) November 24, 2014

Something to keep an eye on as the Hornets, losers of five in a row, try to keep it together.

Mo Speights, No Problems

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

The Golden State Warriors let a physical, scrappy Oklahoma City Thunder team hang around all game long, lost Andrew Bogut and Leandro Barbosa to injuries (neither of which are expected to linger long term) and saw the Splash Brothers combine for just 11 made field goals on 35 attempts.

That's not a recipe for a win under normal circumstances, but normal circumstances don't include Marreese Speights getting loose for a game-high 28 points off the bench.

This was the continuation of a trend for Speights, who has averaged 17.4 points and 6.2 rebounds on 63.5 shooting over his past five contests. Golden State will need its most impactful reserve to keep producing with Bogut potentially limited (but very enthusiastic) as the Warriors embark on a five game road trip through the East.

Good win @warriors ! CT scan all clear (for once). Bit of fluid but should be right...Shout out to @Mospeights16 mobuckets KILLING! #godubs

- Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) November 24, 2014

Thanks to Speights, the Dubs emerged with a 91-86 win to start their travels.

Blake and Bake

Evan Turner was just trying to anticipate the Chris Kaman screen, and part of his job as a defender on the pick-and-roll is to make sure the guard-Steve Blake in this case-doesn't get to the middle of the floor. It's called 'icing,' appropriately, as Turner looked very much like he was on skates.

Unfortunately, Turner's anticipatory lunge combined with Blake's quick right-to-left crossover to produce a highlight the Boston Celtics' wing will be hearing plenty about in the coming days.

Turner's defensive uh-oh was a micro example of the macro problem that sank the Boston Celtics. After defending capably for three quarters, Boston stumbled through a 10-0 Portland Trail Blazers run to start the fourth quarter-a surge that ultimately decided the game.

Summation: Blake 1, Turner 0. Blazers 94, Celtics 88.

Lakers Highlights!

Wesley Johnson got to work on both ends in the Los Angeles Lakers' 101-94 loss to the Denver Nuggets, soaring for a hurt-your-feelings two-handed stuff on Arron Afflalo:

And then rising for the spectacular slam on Danilo Gallinari in the fourth quarter:

On a night when many Lakers fans were ecstatic to see Ed Davis get the start over the injured Carlos Boozer (finally!), and then disappointed when Davis fouled out after 22 minutes, Johnson stepped in to fill the excitement void.

Unfortunately, Johnson's moments of heroism were the only positives in a loss the Lakers gave away at the foul line and on the offensive glass.

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