When the news broke that Kawhi Leonard was signing with the Los Angeles Clippers in the summer of 2019, and that Paul George was joining him shortly after, it felt like LA's second team was finally set to have its moment under the sun.

Despite moderate success during the Lob City era under Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, they were never able to legitimize the franchise as a true championship contender. Failing to make the conference finals for the first 50 years of your team's existence is definitely a tough monkey to get off your back.

But Kawhi and PG joining a team that had just made the playoffs? The title race felt like a wrap even before playing their first game. They put a nice bow on top too after playing said first game, a dominant double-digit win over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

However, after falling well short of expectations during the NBA bubble last season, and Paul George playing like a human dumpster fire in 13 postseason games, the Clippers did nothing to erase the tormented past that many felt they were destined to overcome. But amidst a spirited playoff run buoyed by unexpected performances, it feels like a different story a year later.

Paul George, Clippers finally vanquished their demons

Clippers, Paul George, Reggie Jackson, Devin Booker, Chris Paul

In Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Clippers just played the most impactful game of their franchise's long and lackluster history. Paul George made it all possible by posting what will probably go down as the greatest postseason performance of his career. PG notched 41 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and three steals to keep his team afloat with the odds stacked against them. The Clippers star was near perfect shooting the basketball, making 15 of his 20 shot attempts for a 75% shooting clip and making all eight of his free throws.

The best part is that Paul George and the Clippers weren't supposed to win this one. There shouldn't have been anything left in the tank after going for broke to try and even the series in a mucked up Game 4. The Clippers were supposed to exit in five games in favor of the Suns, while getting a modest golf clap on their way out for trying their darnest.

There was this sense of inevitability that loomed all throughout Game 5. Despite racing to a quick double-digit lead in the first quarter and carrying it over to the second half, the Clippers' lead just never felt safe enough. Their fears turned into reality at the 8:27 mark of the 3rd quarter, when Suns All-Star Chris Paul nailed a free throw line jumper over Marcus Morris to give Phoenix the lead, 62-61.

Every single element in that moment pointed towards the predictable end of the series for the Clippers. They were still playing without their star closer Kawhi Leonard, one of the few stars capable of stemming the tide in a perilous playoff scenario such as this one. The Suns were playing on their home floor, with the raucous crowd feeling the massive shift in momentum as their team had erased what was once a 13-point lead.

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But then Paul George came down on the other end with a quick bucket plus the foul to stop the bleeding. In the most contrarian display of determination against every Pandemic P meme ever made, George buried the Suns with 20 big points in the third quarter to keep Phoenix at bay. The Suns never led again.

This game went against all the slander that Paul George and the Clippers have ever faced. Just being in the Western Conference Finals was already something to behold for LAC, but to battle adversity in the way that they did felt equally refreshing. Nobody could have faulted them had they rolled over without Leonard playing a single minute in the series. For Paul George and the rest of the squad to be able to bridge it to six games, bringing it back to LA with two more days of rest for Kawhi, they've gotten further than anyone could have expected and still have a chance to pull off something special.

But no matter what happens, Paul George and the Clippers have already done enough to change the narrative surrounding them. They didn't just roll over when the going got tough, and also proved that they're more than just a team carried by Kawhi Leonard.

Whether they fall short in one of the next two games or find a way to miraculously sneak into the NBA Finals, Clippers fans will look back at this game as the one that changed their fortunes entirely.