Clippers vs. Wizards NBA Picks for January 25
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Washington Wizards
Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at 7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C.
Washington's Offensive One-Dimensionality
Washington's lack of offensive versatility -- the paucity of ways in which it can comfortably score -- is evident in its deficiencies behind the arc.
As statistics show, the Wizards must be one of the last squads that will threaten a team from deep.
They rank 27th in three-pointers attempted and 28th in three-point percentage.
Their top high-volume three-point shooter by percentage is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, although he is not particularly efficient this season.
To make matters worse, Caldwell-Pope is cold. He's converting 32.9 percent of his threes this month and has converted more than 33 percent of his three-point attempts one time in the past five games.
As Washington's top scorers -- Bradley Beal, especially -- they are not inclined to shoot from behind the arc.
Scoring Inside
Overall, the Wizards prefer to attack the basket. They attempt the ninth-most field goals per game within five feet of the hoop.
Their most relied upon players largely explain this team statistic.
Beal, especially, wants to score at the basket. He gets a lot of screens set for him so that he may more easily find a path to the hoop.
All the more so due to his inefficiency from behind the arc, he wants above all to drive in order to score. He averages 17.6 drives per game.
Second-leading scorer Kyle Kuzma and fourth-leading scorer Spencer Dinwiddie mirror Beal in their inefficiency from deep and their proclivity to drive.
Third-leading scorer Montrezl Harrell is a center whose best asset is his characteristically momentous rim-attacking.
Clipper Rim Protection
A team that is so reliant on scoring at the basket, as Washington is both because of its top players' offensive strengths and because of its general limitations, will not match up well against the Clipper defense.
Defensively, L.A. excels at protecting the basket. It allows the third-lowest field goal percentage within five feet of the basket.
The Clippers are well-stocked with strong rim-protectors.
Nicolas Batum allows a superb 52.6 defensive field goal percentage within six feet of the basket.
Batum is a versatile player. Despite being a center, he can hold his own when switched onto smaller players.
With his strong lateral ability and positive footwork, he ably limits a smaller player driving to the basket.
Ivica Zubac and three-time All-Defensive first-teamer Serge Ibaka further contribute to L.A.'s stout rim protection.
L.A.'s Offensive Problems
The Clipper defense needs to be solid in order for the team to win because it has serious problems on offense.
L.A. misses its top two playmakers, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, to injury.
Kawhi has been out all season. George's absence began more recently. George showcased his importance to the team's offense during last year's playoffs as he repeatedly carried his team with high-scoring outputs despite his reputation for struggling in the playoffs.
Since George's absence after December 22, the Clippers rank 25th in offensive rating which is even worse than Houston's.
Most recently, they repeatedly struggle to exceed 102 points in a game.
They have had a couple of offensive explosions, but also some duds, like when they failed to reach 95 points in consecutive games from January 11 to January 15 against the Nuggets, Pelicans, and Spurs.
The positive alternative, an explosive outing, seems unlikely because these rare explosions have depended on strong performances from behind the arc.
When they recently exploded against the Pacers and Nuggets, they made 18 threes against the former and 15 against the latter.
An offensive explosion will not happen tonight because Washington's perimeter defense is stout.
The Wizards rank second in limiting opposing three-point attempts and first in limiting the frequency with which opponents attempt wide-open three-point attempts.
These statistics indicate that they are excellent at running shooters off of the three-point line and at limiting easy opportunities from behind the arc.
The Verdict
Washington's strong perimeter defense will exacerbate L.A.'s offensive problems to help keep this a low-scoring game.
Clipper rim protection will also limit Washington's preferred method of scoring.
Best Bet: Under 215 at +100 with BetOnline
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Washington Wizards
Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at 7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C.
Washington's Offensive One-Dimensionality
Washington's lack of offensive versatility -- the paucity of ways in which it can comfortably score -- is evident in its deficiencies behind the arc.
As statistics show, the Wizards must be one of the last squads that will threaten a team from deep.
They rank 27th in three-pointers attempted and 28th in three-point percentage.
Their top high-volume three-point shooter by percentage is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, although he is not particularly efficient this season.
To make matters worse, Caldwell-Pope is cold. He's converting 32.9 percent of his threes this month and has converted more than 33 percent of his three-point attempts one time in the past five games.
As Washington's top scorers -- Bradley Beal, especially -- they are not inclined to shoot from behind the arc.
Scoring Inside
Overall, the Wizards prefer to attack the basket. They attempt the ninth-most field goals per game within five feet of the hoop.
Their most relied upon players largely explain this team statistic.
Beal, especially, wants to score at the basket. He gets a lot of screens set for him so that he may more easily find a path to the hoop.
All the more so due to his inefficiency from behind the arc, he wants above all to drive in order to score. He averages 17.6 drives per game.
Second-leading scorer Kyle Kuzma and fourth-leading scorer Spencer Dinwiddie mirror Beal in their inefficiency from deep and their proclivity to drive.
Third-leading scorer Montrezl Harrell is a center whose best asset is his characteristically momentous rim-attacking.
Clipper Rim Protection
A team that is so reliant on scoring at the basket, as Washington is both because of its top players' offensive strengths and because of its general limitations, will not match up well against the Clipper defense.
Defensively, L.A. excels at protecting the basket. It allows the third-lowest field goal percentage within five feet of the basket.
The Clippers are well-stocked with strong rim-protectors.
Nicolas Batum allows a superb 52.6 defensive field goal percentage within six feet of the basket.
Batum is a versatile player. Despite being a center, he can hold his own when switched onto smaller players.
With his strong lateral ability and positive footwork, he ably limits a smaller player driving to the basket.
Ivica Zubac and three-time All-Defensive first-teamer Serge Ibaka further contribute to L.A.'s stout rim protection.
L.A.'s Offensive Problems
The Clipper defense needs to be solid in order for the team to win because it has serious problems on offense.
L.A. misses its top two playmakers, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, to injury.
Kawhi has been out all season. George's absence began more recently. George showcased his importance to the team's offense during last year's playoffs as he repeatedly carried his team with high-scoring outputs despite his reputation for struggling in the playoffs.
Since George's absence after December 22, the Clippers rank 25th in offensive rating which is even worse than Houston's.
Most recently, they repeatedly struggle to exceed 102 points in a game.
They have had a couple of offensive explosions, but also some duds, like when they failed to reach 95 points in consecutive games from January 11 to January 15 against the Nuggets, Pelicans, and Spurs.
The positive alternative, an explosive outing, seems unlikely because these rare explosions have depended on strong performances from behind the arc.
When they recently exploded against the Pacers and Nuggets, they made 18 threes against the former and 15 against the latter.
An offensive explosion will not happen tonight because Washington's perimeter defense is stout.
The Wizards rank second in limiting opposing three-point attempts and first in limiting the frequency with which opponents attempt wide-open three-point attempts.
These statistics indicate that they are excellent at running shooters off of the three-point line and at limiting easy opportunities from behind the arc.
The Verdict
Washington's strong perimeter defense will exacerbate L.A.'s offensive problems to help keep this a low-scoring game.
Clipper rim protection will also limit Washington's preferred method of scoring.
Best Bet: Under 215 at +100 with BetOnline
