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Amid Humiliating Losing Streak, Kawhi Leonard and Clippers Find Help in 6’8 FIBA World Cup Winner

Published 11/17/2023, 6:47 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

The Los Angeles Clippers have lost all of their momentum after adding James Harden to their roster. They have lost 6 consecutive games and are currently ranked 12th in the Western Conference standings. Kawhi Leonard and Co’s performance in recent games has exposed a lot of problems in how their line-up has been constructed.

The Clippers front office has identified the problem and made their first move to improve their roster. They have added a 6’8 Center who helped his country lift the 2023 FIBA World Cup this summer.

LA Clippers add a 6’8 missing piece in a big move

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The LA Clippers announced that they have added 6’8 Center Daniel Theis to their roster. Theis helped Germany win the FIBA World Cup this summer, averaging 10.9 points and 5.4 rebounds throughout the tournament. The addition of Theis might be exactly what the Clippers need to get them going in the James Harden era. Theis is a decent backup Center, and he played an important role in the success of his former team, the Boston Celtics.

 

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The Clippers need a Big Man, which was evident in their last game against the Denver Nuggets. Head coach Tyronn Lue decided to go with a small line-up with all 4 of the Clippers superstars on the floor. But that move backfired on the Clippers as Nikola Jokic wreaked havoc on offense with the significant size advantage. Clippers’ current backup Center, Mason Plumlee, is set to be sidelined for several months following his MCL injury against the New York Knicks. Daniel Theis will replace Plumlee in the line-up, and that will give some wiggling room to their primary Center, Ivica Zubac.

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Clippers coach Tyronn Lue has a decision to make

The Los Angeles Clippers need a change in line-up to overcome their recent struggles. Tyronn Lue is playing former MVPs James Harden and Russell Westbrook together, which looks like a gamble as they are both ball-dominant players. That might also take away from the productivity of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. It was reported that veteran guard Russell Westbrook suggested to the Clippers coaching staff that he should come off the bench and take the responsibility of leading the Clippers’ second unit.

Clippers’ 6 Games Losing Streak Adds More Misery to Kawhi Leonard’s 16-Year Basketball Career

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That is a big sacrifice by Westbrook, considering he has always been the primary ball handler throughout his career. But that might solve a lot of Ty Lue’s problems. With Westbrook’s sacrifice and Daniel Theis’ addition, the Clippers might finally find their groove and get back into the winning column. Kawhi Leonard and Co. are desperately looking for their first win in the James Harden era, and Ty Lue needs to act fast before the season gets out of their grasp.

Watch This Story: 5 Games of James Harden in LA, and Clippers are “Mathematically” Out of In-season Tournament

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Written by:

Rohan Bhaunt

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Rohan is an NBA Content Writer at EssentiallySports. He is a state-level basketball player and has been a fan of the NBA for over a decade. This allows him to deep dive into the sport and provide a fresh outlook.
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Edited by:

Tushhita.barua