It is weird. You look at the roster, you see the names, and you think you’ve got it figured out. But the LA Clippers starting five is basically a moving target. Honestly, if you’re a fan trying to keep track of who is actually jumping for the opening tip at Intuit Dome, you need a spreadsheet and a lot of patience. This isn't just about injuries, though that’s the big elephant in the room. It’s about a team caught between a "win-now" mandate and the brutal reality of aging superstars in a league that has gotten significantly younger and faster.
James Harden is the engine now. That’s the reality. With Paul George gone to Philly and Kawhi Leonard’s knee being, well, a constant mystery, the starting lineup has transitioned from a "Big Three" experiment into the James Harden Show, featuring a cast of high-energy role players. It’s a different vibe. It’s grittier. But is it enough to actually compete in a Western Conference that is currently a bloodbath?
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The Anchor and the Question Mark
Everything starts with James Harden. Since his arrival, the offense has been bent to his will. He’s not the "60 points on 12 dribbles" guy from Houston anymore, but he is still one of the most elite floor generals in the game. When you talk about the LA Clippers starting five, Harden is the only true lock. He brings a level of pick-and-roll sophistication that Ivica Zubac has feasted on. Zubac is having a career stretch because Harden knows exactly when to drop that pocket pass.
Then there’s Kawhi.
Look, we have to be real about Kawhi Leonard. When he’s on the floor, he’s still a top-five player on both ends. The problem is the "when." His absence forces Ty Lue to shuffle the deck constantly. Usually, this means Derrick Jones Jr. or Terance Mann has to slide into roles that require more offensive creation than they’re naturally comfortable with. Jones Jr. was a massive pickup from Dallas. He brings that vertical spacing and POA (point of attack) defense that the Clippers desperately needed after losing the length of Paul George.
Why the Frontcourt is Actually the Strongest Link
People sleep on Ivica Zubac. It’s a mistake. He’s the longest-tenured Clipper for a reason. In an era of "small ball," Zubac has remained a traditional lighthouse in the paint. He’s durable. He’s reliable. Most importantly, he has developed a chemistry with Harden that makes the starting unit functional even when the perimeter shots aren't falling.
Then you have the power forward spot. This is where things get "kinda" experimental. Whether it's Nicolas Batum bringing that veteran "connector" energy or the team leaning into smaller, faster lineups with Norman Powell sliding up, the four-spot is the barometer for how the Clippers want to play that night. If they're facing a team like Denver, they need the size. If they're playing the Warriors, they need the switchability.
The Norman Powell Promotion
For years, Norman Powell was the ultimate "Sixth Man" microwave. But the current iteration of the LA Clippers starting five has often required him to be the second or even first scoring option. It’s a lot of pressure. Powell is one of the most efficient downhill attackers in the league, but moving him into the starting lineup thins out the bench.
Ty Lue is a master of adjustments. He’s widely considered one of the best tactical minds in the NBA by peers like Erik Spoelstra and Steve Kerr. But even Lue can't conjure spacing out of thin air. When you start Terance Mann and Ivica Zubac together, the floor gets cramped. Defenders sag off Mann. They dare him to shoot. This forces Harden into high-degree-of-difficulty step-backs just to keep the defense honest.
- The Spacing Issue: Without a consistent 40% high-volume shooter next to Harden, the paint becomes a graveyard.
- Defensive Identity: The identity has shifted toward "deflection monsters."
- Transition Game: They want to run more, but that’s hard to do with an older roster.
The defense is where this group actually wins games. Kris Dunn coming off the bench or occasionally spot-starting has changed the energy. The Clippers are at their best when they are turning teams over and letting Harden cook in the half-court. It’s a slow, methodical, almost grueling style of basketball. It’s not always pretty to watch, but it’s effective against teams that thrive on rhythm.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Lineup Consistency
There's a narrative that the Clippers are "failing" because the lineup changes so much. That’s a bit of a lazy take. In reality, the modern NBA—especially under a coach like Lue—is about "optimal pairings" rather than a static starting five. You might see Amir Coffey start one night because of a specific matchup against a wing like Jayson Tatum.
The advanced stats tell an interesting story. Lineups featuring Harden, Powell, and Zubac generally post a positive net rating, but the defensive floor drops significantly when you remove a guy like Terance Mann. Mann is the "glue." He doesn’t need the ball. He cuts, he rebounds, and he takes the toughest defensive assignment so Harden doesn't have to. You can’t value that solely on a box score.
The Role of the "New" Intuit Dome Energy
You can't talk about this team without the context of their new home. There’s a psychological shift happening. For the first time, this group isn't the "other" team in the building. The starting five feels the pressure of a dedicated fan base in "The Wall." It sounds like a cliché, but players like Norman Powell have talked about how the acoustics and the proximity of the fans change the intensity of the first quarter.
Practical Reality of the Western Conference
The West is terrifying. You have OKC with their youth and speed. You have the Lakers still leaning on LeBron’s longevity. You have the Wolves' size. The LA Clippers starting five matches up decently with the big teams because of Zubac, but they struggle against the track-meet teams. If Harden is tired, the whole system stalls.
If you're betting on this team or just tracking them for fantasy, you have to watch the injury report up until 15 minutes before tip-off. That’s just the Clippers' tax. But when they are whole—if that ever happens for a sustained period—the defensive versatility of a Harden-Powell-Leonard-Jones Jr.-Zubac lineup is legitimately scary. It’s a lot of wingspan. It’s a lot of playoff experience.
Actionable Insights for Following the Clippers
To really understand how this lineup is performing, stop looking at points per game. Look at Defensive Rating in the first six minutes. That tells you if the starters came to play or if they’re sleepwalking.
Monitor the "clutch time" lineups. Ty Lue will often pull a starter for a hot hand like Bones Hyland or Nicolas Batum in the final four minutes. The starting five is just the opening act; the closing lineup is where the tactical genius happens.
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Pay attention to Zubac's usage rate. When he gets more than 10 shots, the Clippers' win percentage spikes. It means the Harden-Zubac gravity is working, which opens up the corners for shooters.
The Clippers aren't trying to win the regular season beauty contest. They are trying to survive it. Every lineup iteration is a lab experiment for the postseason. Whether those experiments lead to a trophy or another "what if" season depends entirely on the health of a certain player’s right knee.
Keep an eye on the waiver wire for guys like Kevin Porter Jr. if the starting backcourt gets thin. The depth is there, but the ceiling is, and always will be, dictated by the availability of the stars. It’s a high-stakes gamble that the front office has doubled down on, for better or worse.