The core issue with the Clippers, something even casual observers following Jeetbuzz App Download trends might notice, is that once James Harden is on the floor, the team simply cannot afford a slow footed interior defender. During the recent six game winning streak, the illusion held together largely because opponents lacked consistent three point shooting. Brook Lopez was pulled away from the paint to stretch the floor, the ball moved smoothly on offense, and just as importantly, perimeter defensive rotations were sharp. Lopez at least tried to close out on shooters, and while the results were mixed, the limited shooting quality of those opponents masked deeper structural flaws. Against Boston, however, everything was laid bare.

At its heart, this is a defensive problem. The Clippers were built on defense, and during that winning stretch they ranked first in the league in defensive efficiency across six games. Offensively, much of the production came from Kawhi Leonard finding a personal rhythm. What Boston demonstrated was something else entirely. Their ball movement was rapid, their reads were instant, and every player could either shoot or attack off the catch. When rotations are slow, this is not bad luck or hot shooting, it is a system being exposed. Those open threes are not gifts, they are earned by forcing defenders a half step behind.

If the idea is to optimize spacing so Leonard can operate comfortably, then a floor spacing big makes sense, but only to a point. Leonard needs a big who can both stretch the floor and facilitate. The complication is Harden. Pairing Harden with a pure spacing center still leads to the same outcome against elite teams. One pick and pop, a quick swing pass, and the defense collapses. Teams do not need complex schemes, they just target slow rotations and let the ball do the work.

The reality is simple. With Harden on the court, slow centers become a glaring weakness. When Harden shares minutes with Lopez or Ivica Zubac, opponents repeatedly generate clean looks from basic pick and roll actions. Harden’s foot speed and body type do not allow him to fight over screens consistently at this stage of his career. When the big drops, shooters walk into rhythm shots. When the big steps out, recovery is impossible. It becomes a lose lose equation.

Zubac does offer more low post scoring than Lopez, but those touches come at a cost. His post ups occupy Leonard’s preferred operating space and clog Harden’s driving lanes. The stars are forced to stand aside and watch. If the shot goes in, fine. If not, the possession has little strategic value. On defense, the margin for error disappears. If Zubac cannot score efficiently, his presence actively hurts the lineup.

The larger problem is systemic. Harden’s perimeter defense is already a step slow, and pairing him with another slow defender amplifies the issue. Against quick wings, he is beaten off the dribble, forcing help that never arrives in time. No amount of effort from role players can fully cover those gaps. As the season progresses and the stakes rise, a reality that many following Jeetbuzz App Download discussions are starting to accept becomes unavoidable. Without faster interior options and clearer defensive priorities, this version of the Clippers will continue to be unraveled by the simplest actions in the book.