DeAndre Jordan has nine blocks over the past two games and has blocked at least one shot in each of the Los Angeles Clippers' first five games.

"He has to do a good job controlling the paint for us, and that's part of it," Vinny Del Negro said. "We've seen how athletic he is. He's still learning and he's still kind of finding his way a little bit. But that helps us to be more consistent."

The Clippers believe Jordan's athleticism and length can help the team improve its interior defense.

"It's not only blocking shots, but altering shots and being in the right spots and talking and all the things that veteran players do to make the game easier," Del Negro said. "He's trying to work through those things."