It’s time to meet the Los Angeles Clippers – a team that is currently something between a contender and a pretender. Since last year, things have definitely turned around for the Clipper. Before the beginning of the 2013-14 season, everyone in the league was talking how Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Doc Rivers and company will be contending for the title in the next couple of years. However, things change. Since the start of the current campaign, there are statements that the Clippers have absolutely no chances in the postseason.
However, is it true that the Clippers have absolutely no chances of lifting the NBA championship this year? In my opinion, this statement isn’t correct. Yes, the team from Los Angeles has its problems, but I don’t think there is a perfect team in the league right now. The problem is that the Clippers have just been over-scrutinized by the public.
“I don’t think we’re well-liked. … We’re not liked by the referees at all. … Our team’s personality, we’re mercurial. Some games, the body language—all of us—it’s there. Some games it’s not there. We have the talent, so then people are saying, ‘Why aren’t they doing what the [Golden State] Warriors are doing?’ or whatever it may be. It seems like the inconsistency is part of that. Some people write us off, and some people just don’t like us.”
These words belong to J.J. Reddick, who answered a question regarding why the Clippers haven’t done better in the current season. However, his answer doesn’t really cover the full picture.
To progress in the playoffs, a team needs to have a lot of talent, a couple of superstars, good role players, a good coach and two-way balance. The strange thing is that the Clippers have all of these things. The team has two premier superstars, which are Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Last season they were the only teammates to finish among the top ten in MVP votes. This season they are the only players from the same squad that is in the top-10 player efficiency ratings. Furthermore, the Clippers have DeAndre Jordan, who is a beast on the defensive end, Reddick, who is a great three-point shooter and Jamal Crawford, who is a game-changing sixth man. Moreover, Doc Rivers is a coach that has championship experience and is one of the best in the league.
The main problem for the Clippers is that they fail to translate their regular season success in the playoffs. However, we shouldn’t count Chris Paul and company because of their previous failures. This season is one of the best for the franchise, as they are currently healthy (except Crawford) and have started to look like a complete team. Even though the Clippers are almost forgotten, it very possible that they will go deep in this year’s playoffs.
NBA News: Can the Los Angeles Clippers contend?
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