Translating the Los Angeles Clippers into Gridiron Terms

As the dust settles on what has turned out to be a spectacular NBA off-season, the basketball world is now intently focused on the City of Angels. 

For the first time in 35 years, both teams, the Lakers and the Clippers are legitimate contenders if not favorites, to be crowned NBA champions. With both franchises acquiring two of the top 10 players in the league, Los Angeles has the potential to produce one of the NBA's most compelling rivalries.

As we examine the rosters of both teams to see who has the better talent, the roles of each team's top three key players resemble the key roles in another of America's greatest team sports, the NFL. In football, every position plays a key factor into the success of the team. The top three players on each of the Clippers and Lakers rosters abilities can relate to positions in the NFL.  How do each players roles and abilities translate?  In this article, we will look at each players attributes beginning with the Clippers first.

The Clippers acquisition of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George transforms an already solid playoff team into a championship favorite. On offense, Leonard and George are the Clippers star wide receivers. Both are more than capable of taking the top off a defense and picking up the short-yardage when needed. On defense, they are the teams shut down corners, with both having an all-defensive reputation that proceeding them.

Kawhi Leonard is a prominent scorer. The reference to taking the top off a defense is directly relating to his excellent ability to shoot the three at a high percentage. Leonard shot 37.1 % from behind the arc in 2018-19 and has shooting percentage of 38% from behind the arc for his career. As a short-yardage receiver that can pick up tough yards over the middle as well as move the first-down chains, he is an excellent ISO player who can create his own shot when the clock winds down. He shot a respectable 85% from the stripe and 49% from the field in 2019. He is one of the most versatile players in the league and practically unguardable one on one.

On defense, Kawhi's nickname says it all. The "Klaw" is known as a lock-down defender. A 2x Defensive Player of the Year, Kawhi has often either shut down or limited the opposing team’s best player. His anticipation and athleticism allow him to guard positions 1-4 which in turn allows the team more versatility when defending.  He plays the passing lanes well like a cover corner and blocks shots like a bump and run defender.

Paul George is the Clippers other big-play wide receiver. A number 1A if you will. He is a scary player capable of the deep ball, possession play or screen for a long gain. Averaging 28.0ppg while shooting 43% from the field and 38.6% from three Paul is just as capable of beating you from anywhere on the court. He also picks up “the shortage yardage" in the post and shoots 83% from the stripe. At 6'9" his ability to step out to the 3-point line or beat you to the basket makes guarding him a nightmare on a nightly basis. On the defensive side of the ball, he is a beast as well. He can potentially guard positions 1-5, especially in this age of position-less basketball, he becomes extremely dangerous in small-ball lineups. This is equivalent to a receiver lining up at both flanker and end positions as well as the slot while having the size to slide into the tight position if needed.

The Clippers 3rd most important player, in my opinion, is Lou Williams. The reigning NBA sixth man of the year is as dangerous as any player coming off the bench in NBA history. In 2019 Williams won an unprecedented 3rd sixth man of the year award averaging 20 points and 5.4 assists while shooting 36.1 percent from three.  He is the NFL equivalent of a 3rd down back and slot receiver on offense, and special teams ace. He can get hot at anytime from anywhere. He can drive, shoot the mid-range, pass, and hit from deep. He causes concern for any teams second unit and is the 3rd most important player for the Clippers.

These are three of the most versatile and dangerous players in the league, which makes the Clippers a very formidable foe. Before the additions of Kawhi and PG, they were already a top defensive team. Now with those additions and a Hall of Fame coach in Doc Rivers putting them in the proper positions to succeed, the Clippers are for the first time the favorites to win it all.