The Los Angeles Clippers' defense figures to be elite this coming season. With Kawhi Leonard locking down the opposing team's top perimeter weapons and Ivica Zubac protecting the rim, the Clippers have a solid foundation on the defensive end. Add to that the likes of Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn -- two defensive-oriented players the Clippers added this offseason -- and you have a formidable defensive unit.

However, while their defense may rank among the league's best, the Clippers still face some offensive struggles.

The cold, hard truth

Paul George was the Clippers' second-leading scorer last season, averaging 22.6 points on 47 percent shooting, including a sizzling 41 percent from beyond the arc, which helped open the floor up for Kawhi Leonard's midrange mastery and Harden's playmaking. However, with PG off to Philadelphia and the team not getting any assets in return, many expect the Clippers to have problems with spacing.

"Losing Paul George stings. A lot," Bleacher Report's Dan Favale wrote. "Jones and Dunn will help the team's overall zip and rim pressure. They also shrink the floor. Even if they are hitting threes, they don't take enough of them to frazzle rival defenses."

While Kawhi and Harden remain elite players, the duo's recent history provides many reasons for skepticism regarding availability and consistency this coming season. If or when one or worse, the two of them miss games, the supporting cast will be severely put to the test.

Secondary lineups lack zip

On paper, the Clippers have players who can fully support the team's top guns. Norman Powell remains one of the league's best bench players, while Terance Mann is a versatile guard who does terrific work on both ends. However, these things may not be enough to keep the Clippers in contention in the wild West.

"None of this is enough. The Clippers' offense stayed above water last year when Harden and Leonard played without George and Russell Westbrook. But they lost those minutes overall, and more notably, the secondary lineups aren't nearly as strong. L.A. will be subject to many more one-star (and maybe zero-star) combinations," Favale stated.

The Clippers currently stand on shaky ground. Although the team's defense is expected to be exemplary, the Clippers may struggle to keep up in an NBA replete with high-powered offenses.

Related: Clippers beat writer warns Paul George for joining 76ers