# The REAL REASON the LA Clippers Were Awful to Start the Year

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-clippers-daily-podcast-on-the-la-clippers-1027483/the-real-reason-the-la-clippers-were-awful-to-start-the-year
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-clippers-daily-podcast-on-the-la-clippers-1027483/the-real-reason-the-la-clippers-were-awful-to-start-the-year.md
Podcast: [Locked On Clippers - Daily Podcast On The LA Clippers](https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-clippers-daily-podcast-on-the-la-clippers-1027483)
Published: 2026-06-02T10:24:43+00:00
Episode link: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-clippers/
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/9bc8cc/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/202afaaf-8f6d-414f-88e6-b47aefd93380/episodes/500c033e-f46e-4815-b8eb-33c53065db25/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=202afaaf-8f6d-414f-88e6-b47aefd93380&awEpisodeId=500c033e-f46e-4815-b8eb-33c53065db25&feed=9HilEXio
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/locked-on-clippers-daily-podcast-on-the-la-clippers-1027483/episodes/the-real-reason-the-la-clippers-were-awful-to-start-the-year
Duration seconds: 1685

## Resource

Los Angeles Clippers’ rocky start traced to Derrick Jones Jr.’s absence: Did injuries doom their playoff hopes from the outset? Die hard LA Clippers fan and Host Darian Vaziri spotlights how Derrick Jones Jr.’s 32-game injury significantly disrupted the Clippers’ defensive identity and momentum last season, often overlooked amid talk about Kawhi Leonard’s and Ivica Zubac’s stretches out of the lineup. Explore Jones Jr.’s impact as a top defender and transition threat, his offensive limitations, and why his $10 million contract brings major value whether the Clippers rebuild or retool around Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland. Vaziri examines the crucial debate: Can you start both Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn, or does the offense suffer too much? Key insights include Jones Jr.’s critical role in playoff-caliber lineups, his comparison to Kris Dunn, and tough decisions looming for the Clippers’ rotation. Find out why Jones Jr.’s health could make or break L.A.’s campaign as they chase relevance in a stacked Western Conference.

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## Transcript

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