Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. have been massive in the Clippers turnaround.
The Los Angeles Clippers have been one of the best stories in the NBA this season, and their turnaround from a 6-21 start to a 34-32 record has been nothing short of remarkable.
A lot of the attention has gone to Kawhi Leonard's scoring and the addition of Darius Garland at the trade deadline, but the defensive identity of this team runs through two players who do not get nearly enough credit.
Guard Kris Dunn and forward Derrick Jones Jr. have been the engine behind everything the Clippers do on that end of the floor, and Dunn recently summed up their approach in the simplest way possible.
"We just try to stop their tendencies. Break rhythm," Dunn said.
Two Defenders Setting the Tone
It sounds basic, but the way Dunn and Jones Jr. go about their business on defense is anything but simple.
Dunn has been a menace all season long, using his quickness and instincts to disrupt opposing ball handlers and jump passing lanes at every opportunity.
He is averaging 1.5 steals per game this season while also contributing 7.8 points and 3.6 assists in 27.6 minutes a night.
Those numbers do not jump off the page, but Dunn's value goes well beyond what shows up in a box score.
Kawhi Leonard has been vocal about just how important Dunn is to this team and even said he believes Dunn deserves First Team All-Defense honors this year.
"They are the head of the snake on that end of the floor," Leonard said about Dunn and Jones Jr. after a dominant win over the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier this month.
Jones Jr. brings a completely different skill set to the table, but his impact is just as big.
The 6-foot-6 forward with a seven-foot wingspan has been one of the most versatile defenders on the roster this season, averaging 1.1 blocks and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 51.5 percent from the field on offense.
His length and athleticism allow him to guard multiple positions, and he has a habit of cutting off driving lanes before opponents even get going.
"Whatever way they try to go, I just cut it off," Jones Jr. said.
Why They Matter So Much
Head coach Tyronn Lue has made it clear that he needs at least one of them on the floor at all times, and when both were rested during the second quarter of the Timberwolves game, Minnesota went on a quick 10-1 run that nearly erased an 11-point lead.
That stretch showed exactly how much Dunn and Jones Jr. mean to this group.
The Clippers rank eighth in the NBA in steals and 11th in opponent field goal percentage, and so much of that comes from the pressure those two apply right from the opening tip.
Dunn studies film like a coach, breaking down every player's tendencies and habits so he can anticipate what they want to do before they even do it.
Jones Jr. pairs that with raw physical tools that most players in the league simply cannot match.
Together, they give the Clippers something that very few teams have, which is two elite perimeter defenders who can take turns guarding the best player on the other side.
With the Clippers sitting at 34-32 and fighting for a playoff spot in a loaded Western Conference, Dunn and Jones Jr. are two of the biggest reasons this team has a real shot at making noise down the stretch.