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LA Clippers: Jamal Crawford thinks L.A. are ‘right there’ as contenders

By Tom West

Mar 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Jamal Crawford (right) holds onto guard Chris Paul (3) during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. The Clippers won 96-94. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Jamal Crawford (right) holds onto guard Chris Paul (3) during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. The Clippers won 96-94. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jamal Crawford has talked about the LA Clippers’ 2016-17 season, and believes the team is still “right there” as a championship contender.

The 2016-17 NBA season is a pivotal one for the LA Clippers. Blake Griffin is returning healthy to a team that’s largely the same except for some new additions to the bench, and like the similar roster, the expectations will be the same. Yet again, the Clippers will be under pressure from themselves, their critics, and their fans to break through in the playoffs. Getting past the second round is the minimum.

Last season was a write off after the injuries to Chris Paul and Griffin that removed them early from the playoffs, which only places more incentive to achieve greater success in their final season under contract before 2017 free agency.

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The obvious postseason obstacle, an unbelievably imposing one at that, will be the Golden State Warriors. Likely waiting in the Western Conference Finals, they seem in another class after adding Kevin Durant. But Jamal Crawford thinks his team is “right there”.

Crawford believes the Clippers’ chemistry, reinforced by some continuity this offseason, is key, and that they won’t stop knocking on the door as contenders, per Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders:

"“I think chemistry is underrated. If you look at the really, really great teams, most of them have been together for years. And not just in this era either, I’m talking even going back and looking at the great teams in NBA history. I think we’re right there in terms of contending. We’re not far away whatsoever. Sometimes you have to keep knocking on that door until you break it down. It may take time and it may not be the easiest process, but that’s the way I kind of look at it.”"

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Crawford is right in the approach that you need to keep knocking on the door until it falls down. That’s often an approach that people miss in the suggestions of, “break up the Big 3!” Sometimes all you need is a little luck, an injury to an opponent, or a hot spell of shooting to get your break at the right time in the playoffs.

You don’t break up a perennial 55-win team for no better alternative when you could get such a chance at any moment.

Of course, the opposite happened for the Clippers last season with Paul’s and Griffin’s injuries. But that’s just how the cards fall sometimes.

The LA Clippers are “right there” in the top group of contenders as Crawford said. However, they aren’t close enough to the Warriors right now to be considered anything more than a likely second place.

Next: Jamal Crawford's 2016-17 Player Preview

Second place in the Western Conference and a trip to the Conference Finals could be the ceiling for this year’s Clippers when the door they have to break down is protected by a Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green foursome. Only time will tell how far Lob City can go.

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