For the fans of the Los Angeles Clippers, who acquired two superstars in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in 2019, some may categorize this iteration as a disappointment as the team has only made the NBA Conference Finals once. This season, Leonard and George have been out due to unfortunate injuries, but the Clippers are miraculously over .500 and are holding to the eighth seed in the tough Western Conference.
With the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans behind them, it does not seem likely for any of them to overtake the Clippers before the regular season wraps up. The depth of the Clippers has been incredible, and credit goes to their owner Steve Ballmer who has been willing to go over the salary cap and pay the tax penalty ever since the acquisition of Leonard and George.
As the Clippers are still hoping to compete for the coveted crown this season, several things are in the offing.
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Los Angeles Clippers: 3 bold predictions for rest of 2021-22 NBA season
3. Norman Powell will be the X-factor
After acquiring Powell from the Portland Trail Blazers before the trade deadline, he was terrific in his first few games in a Clippers uniform. Unfortunately, he incurred a fractured bone in his left foot, which forced him to be sidelined for possibly until the tail-end of the regular season. He has not been ruled out for the campaign, which is a tremendous sign for the Clippers.
Powell's two-way prowess and his ability to fill in the gaps with the weaknesses of his teammates make him an effective X-factor for the Tyronn Lue-led squad. If Leonard and George are not able to be their old self, Powell could also be a reliable playmaker and scorer when he returns to the lineup. Additionally, he could help Marcus Morris Sr. or Terance Mann defend some of the talented wings in the league. As a versatile player, Powell will be instrumental to the postseason run of the Clippers this season.
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2. Top 5 defense by end of regular season
With the lack of talent and offensive firepower in their current roster, the Clippers have heavily relied on their defense and relentlessness to compete with any opponent on any given night. Morris, Mann, Nicolas Batum, and Robert Covington are just some of their superb defenders. The opportunity for Lue to play drop coverage, switch everything, or blitz pick-and-rolls could all be called because his wards all have athleticism and defensive awareness.
The Clippers are currently seventh in the NBA in defensive rating, which is more than enough to be a tough out in any playoff matchup. They still have a chance to elevate their rating even more, possibly to the top five as that will guarantee them a fighter's chance every game. The Clippers' best offensive option is either giving the rock to Morris or Reggie Jackson, which is not an advisable move. They will mostly rely on scoring by committee, but it is their defense that will give them an edge.
1. George comes back, Leonard does not
Even with the team not giving any concrete time on Leonard's return, it seems more likely for him to sit the season out and be at 100% for the 2022-23 campaign. The injury history and susceptibility to other soft-tissue injuries may occur with The Klaw, which must be avoided at all costs after the ACL tear he sustained.
It seems more plausible for George to suit up in the last few games of the Clippers and help them put up a fight heading into the NBA Playoffs. Even with Leonard's exit last season, George led the Clippers to the NBA Conference Finals before succumbing to the Phoenix Suns in six games. His talent and skill level are immense, so they will need him on the floor if they seriously want to compete with either of the top two seeds in the Western Conference.
Leonard's absence will lower their ceiling, but George has already proven that he could catapult himself as a leader and go-to guy for the Clippers. The postseason meltdowns are what stand out for some fans when it comes to George's career, but one cannot forget his success last year and his victories with the Indiana Pacers. The Clippers will rely on George's return and their intense defensive prowess.
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