LA Clippers head coach Ty Lue changed the starting lineup on November 13th, replacing Terance Mann with Kris Dunn. Lue stated on November 14th that he made the change to have another ball handler on the floor with James Harden.
“Just trying to get another ball handler on the floor with James,” Lue said. “When teams try to pressure him. Like [Dillon] Brooks, like [Lu] Dort… I thought getting [Kris Dunn] on the court, a true point guard, I thought would help… That was my thought process going into it.”
Ty Lue was lying about the starting lineup change
However, Lue’s statement was misleading, as the offense has statistically declined since Dunn was inserted into the lineup. Before Kris was named a starter, the Clippers’ starting lineup averaged 79.9 points, shooting 47.6% on 59.5 attempts per game in 11 outings.
After Kris Dunn entered the starting lineup, the team is averaging 64.5 points, shooting 43.6% on 54.3 attempts per game in 6 outings. The counterargument to these statistics is that Norman Powell missed two games with a sore left hamstring.
Yes, that is true, but the Clippers performed worse with Dunn and Powell in the starting lineup together. The starters averaged 62 points, shooting 42.9% on 54.8 attempts per game in four outings. Lue put Kris Dunn in the starting lineup to improve the team’s defense.
Terance Mann’s style of defense
Terance Mann is a player who likes to switch defensive assignments during a possession. For example, he was guarding Stephen Curry on the right wing with 6:19 minutes remaining in the second quarter on November 18th, 2024.
As soon as Curry runs towards the top of the key, he decides to switch defensive assignments with Nicolas Batum and guard Draymond Green. Unfortunately, Draymond cuts to the basket as the switch is happening. Terance Mann could not catch up to Green, leading Mann to commit a foul.
Terance Mann’s defensive habits have led opponents to shoot 49.2% on 35.9 attempts during his 20.9 minutes per game, the worst on the team. The Clippers perform substantially better with Kris Dunn on the floor. During his 22.6 minutes per game, opponents shoot 43.4% on 40.2 attempts.
Kris Dunn’s style of defense
What is the difference between Dunn and Mann? Well, Dunn stays with his original defensive assignment for the entire possession. For example, Dunn was guarding Curry on the left wing with 10:18 minutes remaining in the first quarter on November 18th, 2024.
Dunn stayed with Curry as he ran towards the elbow to receive a dribble handoff from Trayce Jackson-Davis. Upon getting the ball, Curry ran to the top of the key, where he was double-teamed by Dunn and Ivica Zubac.
Consequently, Curry passed the ball to Andrew Wiggins, who missed a three-pointer from the left wing. Kris Dunn’s defense has been the catalyst behind the team’s defensive success. LA is holding opponents to 45.7% shooting on 85.1 attempts through 17 games, the 11th-best in the league.
The field goal percentage has contributed to opponents averaging 106.9 points per game, 4th best in the league. In conclusion, Kris Dunn’s habits are the catalyst behind the LA Clippers’ defensive success during the 2024-25 season.
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