Clippings: New beginnings

Hey there, Clips Nation.

My name is Sabreena, and some of you may remember me from this site last season. I joined as the deputy managing editor for the 2018-19 year and it was the absolute thrill of my sportswriting career to that point. Being embedded within this community and then getting to interact with the team itself — thanks to the work done by my predecessors here to establish this site as a leading outlet for Clippers content — was a dream come true.

I stepped away for a minute to pursue some other professional opportunities, but the fates have aligned for me to return to Clips Nation as a Producer for California Fan Communities. What that means is I am fully back on board to dutifully chronicle what hopes to be a historical season for this franchise, but you’ll also be able to read my words about the NBA at our sister sites like Silver Screen & Roll and Sactown Royalty, and I might also pop in elsewhere on our California communities.

The title may have changed, and we’ve spent some time apart, but my commitment to providing the best possible coverage for Clips Nation remains the same. I know that we’ve lost some long-time voices, including the people who brought me in and who I worked alongside. Like any fan, I understand the pain of roster turnover, and I am sad to see them go. I am excited, however, for what we can continue to build here.

This Clips Nation community has been so welcoming to me since my first post, and I’m so happy to be back in this place. This current Clippers team is the best I’ve ever seen, and my goal is for this site to reflect that level of excellence.

Let’s get to it.

It’s been a season unlike any other for Doc Rivers and the Clippers, who have had their full complement of players healthy for just six games out of 58. The team is 6-0 when that happens, including a win over the Suns Wednesday in a defensive slugfest.

What that lack of continuity has necessitated is the implementation of new off-court strategies. One such wrinkle the Clippers have thrown into their preparation is having players-only film sessions to get on the same page before sending some clips to Rivers and his staff for the team to look at together. Rivers says he’s never done it before in his career, but it’s working.

Some more links:

Despite their inconsistency in terms of wins and losses, the Clippers have the appropriate sense of urgency for the rest of the regular season.

Paul George is dealing with one of the challenges of playing with twins.

Reggie Jackson is leaning on his good friend PG to help adjust to playing with a new team.

The trade deadline may have affected the market for the Clippers’ free agents this offseason, specifically Montrezl Harrell.