It's been a narrative playing over and again each season for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Chris Paul and the Clippers have never been past the second round. Paul in fact has never passed the second round even with the Hornets.
Clippers coach and President for Basketball Operations Doc Rivers talked with Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, and downplayed the possibility of getting past the second round of the playoffs.
You should never run from the truth. That’s true. But getting past the second round is such a [expletive] goal. That’s not my goal. My goal is to be the winner. So, to be the winner, part of that is getting past the second round. The second round talk does nothing for me. The endgame is being the winner.
The Clippers have loftier goals, and with their three main stars all returning healthy this season, they're going to give their best crack at it.
The biggest obstacle of theirs, and everyone else alike, is the Golden State Warriors who lured Kevin Durant to sign with the team in free agency, and are now favorites to win it all.
After that, they still have to look at the San Antonio Spurs who won 67 games last season.
The Spurs signed big man Pau Gasol in free agency, and signed younger players to add more athleticism and shooting to the team.
The Clippers will be aiming to win it all, not just to get past the second round. It has to happen before the criticisms will stop.
They also aren't intimidated by the Warriors talk. While Rivers say they are a competitor, he isn't backing down.
There’s always going to be a competitor in our league. There’s never going to be one team that wins it every year. There’s always going to be someone that’s standing in front of you and our job is to stand directly in front of them and block their way.…
But that’s fine, if that’s what people want to believe [about the Warriors]. We’re just not going to believe that crap.
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