The Los Angeles Clippers have been a roll lately, winning eight of their last 10. They're also on a six-game unbeaten streak and look completely unstoppable right now. Kawhi Leonard has been dealing with a foot issue that has caused him to miss the last two games, but Paul George is carrying the offense in his absence.
PG recently won Western Conference Player of the Week and is averaging over 30 points per night through his last four appearances. With the Lakers still dealing with injuries to Anthony Davis and LeBron James, this is the time for the Clippers to take advantage.
Utah has looked solid and could very well win the West, while the surging Phoenix Suns are also a force to be reckoned with. But come playoff time, the Clips should be considered favorites to make the NBA Finals thanks to their wide array of skills throughout the roster.
Here are three reasons LA has a serious chance at contending for a Larry O'Brien Trophy this season.
Lights out shooting
They say defense wins championships and there's really no questioning that statement. But in today's NBA, being able to shoot it efficiently is extremely important. For the Clippers, they've been one of the best teams in the association in this department.
LA is first in the league with a 42.1 three-point percentage, while also sitting fourth at a 48.7% clip from the field. From the charity stripe as well, the Clips are shooting 84%, which makes them the top dog in the NBA.
They have nine different players who are shooting over 40% from downtown, with George being one of the most deadly from long range. This entire rotation is capable of making it rain, which is certainly a recipe for success when it comes to making a deep playoff run.
Kawhi and George poised after embarrassing collapse
We're all very aware of the Clippers' atrocious collapse in the playoffs last season in the bubble where they blew a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets. George struggled immensely, while Leonard wasn't the same dominant force we've seen from past years.
Although both stars have dealt with their fair share of injuries this season, when healthy, they've looked brilliant in 2020/21. PG's numbers are much better than last year, averaging more points, rebounds, and assists, never mind the lethal shooting.
Leonard is still one of the most dominant two-way players in the league and is more than capable of leading a team to the finals. After winning it all with the Raptors in 2019, Kawhi is going to be very poised to silence the doubters due to the early exit in last year's playoffs.
As for George, he was nicknamed “Pandemic P” after averaging just 20 a night in the bubble. PG has been heavily criticized since by other players and pundits and you better believe the Clippers star will be ready to prove everyone wrong this summer. He is definitely playing with a chip on his shoulder and looking to be the Paul George of the past.
Considering the way both of these guys are playing this season, they're serious about being a contender.
Fundamentally sound on both sides of the ball
The Clippers currently have the best offensive rating in the NBA and the 10th best defense. Ty Lue's squad has an elite perimeter presence, holding opponents to a dismal 35% from three-point land. They have numerous hard-nosed defenders, led by Kawhi, who are capable of holding it down. Adding Rajon Rondo at the deadline was massive for this team, while the likes of Patrick Beverley, Reggie Jackson, among others, are solid contributors on both ends.
Although the Clippers struggle in the paint defensively, their ability to limit efficiency from downtown is crucial. After all, a lot of teams in the league live and die by the three-ball, just like LA. Being able to contain this aspect of an offense is massive.
Sure, Leonard and George are the primary scorers and facilitators, but the Clippers have a deep rotation who are capable of producing when their stars need a rest. They're fourth in the league with 39.6 bench points per game, with Nicolas Batum being one of their most productive scorers in the second unit, while Marcus Morris, Luke Kennard, and Ivica Zubac have all done their part. Even when PG and Kawhi missed time earlier in the year, the Clips were able to win two straight against the Cavs and Heat. The depth is there.
Watch out for LA
The Clippers tick off almost every box imaginable when it comes to being a legitimate threat in the postseason. The only issue is their lack of presence on the glass, which could ultimately hurt them if they come up against a team like the Jazz or Lakers.
But, with Leonard and George leading the way, along with a deep rotation, the Los Angeles Clippers have a real shot at making some noise in the 2021 NBA playoffs if they continue to play at such a high level.
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