Van Gundy highlights increased pace and player tenacity as keys to their reversal of fortune on defense.
Los Angeles Clippers lead assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy is not a man who says much to the media.
He prefers to work behind the scenes, letting head coach Tyronn Lue handle the spotlight while he focuses on what he does best.
But when Van Gundy spoke at practice ahead of Sunday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans, he kept his explanation for the team's defensive turnaround simple.
"We're faster now," Van Gundy said. "You can make up a lot of different reasons, but we're a lot faster."
That speed has shown up in a big way over the last two months for a team that looked like one of the worst in the league early on.
The Clippers started the season 6-21 and their defense was one of the biggest problems on the roster, ranking near the bottom of the NBA through the first couple months.
Since Dec. 20, the Clippers have climbed all the way to 11th in the league in defensive rating, and that improvement has fueled a run that has them sitting at 27-31 heading into Sunday's matchup with the Pelicans.
Van Gundy's Fingerprints on the Defense
Van Gundy was hired in June 2024 as the lead assistant under Lue, bringing 748 games of NBA head coaching experience from his time running the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.
He replaced Dan Craig, who had been overseeing the Clippers' defense before leaving for the Chicago Bulls.
Van Gundy also spent time as a coaching consultant with the Boston Celtics during their 2024 championship run, so when he arrived in Los Angeles, he brought a fresh perspective and a championship-level understanding of what it takes to compete on that end.
His fingerprints are all over this defensive turnaround.
The Clippers are limiting opponents to 115.4 points per game on the season, but that number has been much better since the turn of the calendar.
Van Gundy's focus on attacking the ball, communication between all five players on the court, and an overall increase in pace on the defensive end have all played a part.
Dunn's Role in the Turnaround
One player Van Gundy made sure to praise was veteran guard Kris Dunn, who has been a steady presence in the starting lineup all season.
Van Gundy pointed to Dunn's ability to always "help your tenacity and your anticipation" as a big reason why the defense has taken a step forward.
Dunn is averaging 7.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game this season in 58 appearances, and while his scoring numbers are not flashy, his impact on the defensive end goes well beyond what shows up in the box score.
He has been a reliable perimeter defender who sets the tone for the rest of the group, and his willingness to get into passing lanes and pressure the ball fits right into what Van Gundy wants from his defense.
The Clippers still have two-time Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard anchoring things on the wing, and his return to form has been a huge piece of the puzzle as well.
Leonard is averaging 28.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game this season and has been one of the best two-way players in basketball when healthy.
Van Gundy acknowledged that Leonard's defensive ability is something the coaching staff needs to lean on, saying they would be foolish not to keep giving him those tough assignments.
Looking Ahead
The Clippers have gone 21-10 since their ugly start and are fighting for a Play-In spot in a crowded Western Conference.
Their defense still is not elite for the full season, sitting 18th overall, but the improvement since December tells the story of a team that is finally playing with the speed and effort Van Gundy demands.
If they can keep that up, the Clippers have a real shot at making some noise down the stretch.