Clippers' Redick: 'We're not as good as San Antonio or Golden State'

A 115-107 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night at the AT&T Center put into perspective for Los Angeles Clippers sharpshooter J.J. Redick just how much better Gregg Popovich's squad is.

"We know where we're at. We're not as good as San Antonio or Golden State," Redick said postgame, according to the Orange Country Register's Dan Woike. "Obviously, Monday (against Oklahoma City) will be a test. But, we're not there. We know that."

San Antonio is currently second in the Western Conference at 23-5 - 6.5 games ahead of the Clippers - while the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors have suffered only one defeat in 27 outings.

Closing out games, especially against the league's elite, has been the Achilles' heel of the inconsistent Clippers, who've blown fourth-quarter leads in three losses to the Spurs and Warriors this season.

"We've had trouble closing games against good teams. There's no question," Redick said. "We've closed games against bad teams. I don't know the answer to it."

Offense isn't the issue for the Clippers, who rank fifth in offensive rating at 104.3. It's their defense that keeps them notches below the Spurs and Warriors, who are first and fifth, respectively, in defensive rating. Los Angeles sits 15th, allowing 101.5 points per 100 possessions.

The second unit has also been hugely disappointing after the franchise shored up depth over the offseason by adding Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson, and Josh Smith, ranking 21st in points per game (31.7) and 29th in field-goal percentage (39.5). A lineup of Pierce, Smith, Wesley Johnson, Jamal Crawford, and Austin Rivers conceded an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter, allowing the Spurs to make a comeback.

The Clippers' next opportunity to knock off the Spurs - who they bested in seven games in the opening round of last year's playoffs - comes Feb. 18, 2016, at the Staples Center.