Clippers think they can go past second round of NBA playoffs
By Tom West
The Los Angeles Clippers started their run in the playoffs with a dominant win, but that’s just the beginning to what they believe could be their best playoff run yet.
Even after a resounding 115-95 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1, there’s no telling where the Los Angeles Clippers’ playoff run is headed. Their first game was a thoroughly convincing start and they should progress from the first round in five or six games, but that’s not the goal. A first round win is just the beginning of what could still be a disappointment. Because if the Clippers don’t advance past the second round of the NBA playoffs this season, who knows what their future holds.
Will they blow up part of the core they currently have in place? Will Blake Griffin actually be traded? How can the bench be adjusted in order to make it close enough to that of the Golden State Warriors to cause an upset against the best?
None of these questions can be answered right now. But, as the next few weeks progress, the outcome of the Clippers’ playoff run may force them to be asked with far more urgency.
Another second round exit simply cannot happen if this group wants to prove themselves and live out their full potential. Yet, with an inevitable matchup against the Warriors — you know, the first 73-win team in history — fighting off another second round exit is going to be incredibly difficult.
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Will that stop the Clippers fighting harder than ever, though? Absolutely not.
In fact, urged on by confidence stemming from their improved bench, heightened defense, and the emphatic return of Griffin, the Clippers believe they’re ready to breakout of their playoff rut.
“We’re going to break this,” Doc Rivers said, via Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. “It’s my goal. It’s why I came here. I just think we’re a tougher team mentally, maybe from what we went through, or maybe that’s just the makeup of this group.”
Doc is right. The Clippers do seem tougher than in the past, even if it’s a trait we’ve only seen in regular-season action so far. Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and J.J. Redick stepped up to lead a far better team effort in the absence of Griffin, sparking play that would eventually lead to the Clippers ranking 4th in defensive efficiency and winning in a period that should have seen far more loss without a superstar.
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With a 30-15 record in Griffin’s time out, the strengths established with him gone remained when he returned. Most importantly, that rise from 15th in defensive last season to 4th has made the Clippers tougher. With a second unit that can actually contribute, actually score, and actually play with some grit and defense thanks to Cole Aldrich, the Clippers are far more complete than they were a year ago.
Disappointing additions such as Paul Pierce aside, there’s no doubt this is a better team.
Perhaps, the failure of loss in the past, combined with the improved defense and depth, will give the Clippers what they need to further test the Warriors in the Western Conference semi finals.
“The reassurance that we’ve been here before and just the experience alone has helped us be in the right mind-set going into the playoffs,” Griffin said to Bolch. “Everybody kind of knows what to expect, everybody knows what to do. I think we’re confident, but at the same time, we’ve been in situations in the playoffs where things can go crazy pretty quickly.”
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As the Clippers know more than anyone, things can go pretty crazy very quickly. Blowing the 3-1 series lead to the Houston Rockets last year was unbelievably heartbreaking for Los Angeles, taking the reputation of being doomed to fail in the second round to a whole new level.
To put an end to it, the Clippers need more than just confidence and experience.
Their games against the Warriors are usually fiercely contested, beyond that of typical playoff games between top contenders. The teams simply hate each other and there’s no way to sugarcoat it, but the reigning champs have so many attributes going for them.
After all, it’s why they’re the reigning champs and just became the best regular season team we’ve ever seen. From Stephen Curry‘s remarkable shooting to Draymond Green‘s versatility, they took a championship-winning recipe from last season and made it so much sweeter in 2016.
Nevertheless, the Clippers are also better than they were a year ago. And as Griffin’s return continues with explosive plays and the typical point-forward ability that we’re used to seeing, Doc won’t doubt his chances to test the Warriors.
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It’s hard to predict the Clippers pulling off an upset. But with their improvements and a far better defense, not to mention a strong rivalry and desperate urge to right last season’s wrongs, they should certainly be capable of causing some trouble.