Subscribe
Follow Us
The Los Angeles Clippers are once again contenders to win an NBA championship. With the combination of two All-Stars in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, alongside other contributing factors, the Clips have remained consistent as a top team in the Western Conference.
However, the team has many questions to answer in the postseason, especially considering the outcome they had a season ago.
In the 2020 playoffs, the Clippers were embarrassingly eliminated from the playoffs. After having a 3-1 series lead over the Denver Nuggets, they lost the last three games–including a 15-point embarrassment in Game 7. Heading into the offseason, they parted ways with head coach Doc Rivers and promoted Tyronn Lue as the new coach. In his first season with his new position, coach Lue has utilized his players to succeed in their roles.
This season had a different approach for the Clippers. After being legitimate favorites to win a championship in 2019-20, their gut-wrenching defeat has placed them as underdogs as contenders. For what it's worth though, from their opening game against the Los Angeles Lakers, they have been solid throughout. According to NBA, they also rank in the top half of the best defensive teams in the league.
Having a two-time champion in Leonard automatically elevates the Clippers’ title hopes, but the role players of Los Angeles have done their job as well. Leonard trusting the rest of his teammates to play their role should only give LA a better chance of winning an NBA championship.
With that said, we take a look at why Leonard is not the only reason the Clippers will win it all.
Trusting Paul George
In the past season, the nickname “Pandemic P” has revolved around Paul George since the Clippers’ downfall. PG13 had many inconsistent moments in the NBA bubble, and so fans look forward to seeing how he will redeem himself this postseason.
Through the regular season, George has been efficient on both ends of the floor. In Leonard’s absence from the lineup, he has stepped up as a leader tremendously.
Despite George’s playoff results throughout his career, it is time to let go of the past and focus on this season. George has to be trusted by the Clipper organization to play at a high level for the better of the team.
Article Continues Below
While Leonard will surely be the no.1 option in the playoffs, George following his lead should be huge in the Clippers’ title run.
Paul George is Pandemic P no more pic.twitter.com/Npf5DwwmiB
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) April 21, 2021
Veteran Leaders Stepping Up
The Clippers have great leaders who know their position as role players. This is a team who has playoff experience from seasons ago and will use it to their advantage against opponents. The bench production for the team will be huge in their deep playoff run, as well.
One of the biggest moves in the NBA trade deadline was LA acquiring Rajon Rondo from the Atlanta Hawks. Rondo is coming off of his second championship last season with the Los Angeles Lakers. His leadership as a point guard is what will take the pressure off of Leonard, George and the rest of the Clippers roster.
The Clippers’ other supporting cast includes Reggie Jackson, Serge Ibaka, Patrick Beverley and more. Whether it is knocking down perimeter shots or making a big defensive play, they should be able to make a difference for Lue and Co.
The Clippers have something special with the chemistry they have built. When healthy, they have shown they are one of the dangerous teams in the NBA with their efficiency on both ends. Kawhi Leonard is hungry for his third NBA championship, but he will not be able to accomplish his goal without the production of his teammates.
