NBA Power Rankings: LeBron James, Cavaliers' Free Fall Continues

Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press

Among several options facing a fall (the Knicks, Suns and Pelicans were all strong contenders), it's the Clippers who earn this unwanted distinction.

The Clips hit the road to face a Utah team that—despite an 18-26 record—still plays well at home, before they come back to L.A. to host the Wolves and Celtics. That's a brutal schedule featuring two of the NBA's best teams. More than that, there's just something about this six-game winning streak that feels flimsy.

Maybe it's the fact that half the victories came against the Kings and Hawks. Maybe it's an unwillingness to believe the 31.3 points per game Lou Williams averaged during the six-game run will continue, or that his shooting splits (47.0 percent from the field, 43.5 percent from deep and 92.1 percent from the foul line over his last six games) are sustainable.

DeAndre Jordan has never missed time because of injury before, so even if he makes it back from the longest absence of his career, he might be a bit hesitant. He'll be in uncharted territory.

Some of the stats from this 6-0 spurt are difficult to trust. The Clippers posted a plus-37.0 net rating in the clutch, and opponents shot just 29.1 percent from three-point range while Los Angeles drilled 40.9 percent of its deep attempts. Just to frame those shooting figures, the Lakers are the worst three-point shooting team in the league this season, and they're at 33 percent. Golden State, at 38.9 percent from distance, is the most accurate with the long ball.

During this run, the Clips have shot it from beyond the arc better than the Warriors, and their opponents have been worse than the Lakers.

It's admirable that the Clippers have saved their season, remaining relevant despite so many foreseeable injuries plucking key figures from the rotation. But the narrative surrounding this club continues to focus on unquantifiable qualities such as grit, chemistry and resilience. Maybe it's the robot in me (or the cynic, or the skeptic, or the curmudgeon), but I'd feel a lot more comfortable buying L.A.'s recent run if it were grounded in something more statistically verifiable.

Important Spurs Bulletin!

Let the record reflect that at no point were the San Antonio Spurs a consideration here.

Kawhi Leonard's indefinite absence impacts San Antonio's playoff ceiling and poses an existential threat to the organization's ongoing, uninterrupted excellence. Those are long-term issues.

Fo now, we've seen enough to know the Spurs won't fold without Leonard. We've already watched them survive a hefty chunk of the season without their best player. We know LaMarcus Aldridge, culture, defense and rigid adherence to team-ball concepts keep San Antonio among the league's elite.

Stats courtesy of Basketball Reference, Cleaning the Glass or NBA.com unless otherwise specified. Accurate through games played Thursday, Jan. 18.

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