Clippers Falling to Low Seeded Underdog Actually Works Out to Their Advantage
With three to four weeks left in the regular season, only 13 games remain for the Los Angeles Clippers. How can anyone resist to layout all possible playoff situations?
According to Clipperholics own Jasmine Robinson, the Blake Griffin admits to paying close attention to the Clippers’ playoff standings. When asked about looking ahead, he responded, “It’s hard not to at this point.”
The most important keys for a title run depend on a couple of things. These things can range from if a team hits their stride and gets hot at the right time or just stays healthy. The path to the Finals is equally as important for getting a ring. It matters which four teams have to be beaten in a best of seven game series.
Instead of worrying about home court, the team should focus on which teams will be earning what seed and match up accordingly. Now, we know you cannot reach the finals without slaying at least one of the Western Conference juggernauts. However, are there certain teams that the Clips prefer to see than others? Sure there are, and that is why it is an advantage if this slump has LA fall to a 6th seed underdog.
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Clippers and their fans should not get so caught up on home-court territory. It really is available only in the first round anyways. Also, it only requires a single away game victory to steal home-court. True title contenders should have no problem winning on the road. Therefore, health and match-ups are primarily important when entering the playoffs.
In an ideal playoff scenario, I am sure the team would much rather face the San Antonio Spurs in the early rounds. If the playoffs started today, the Clippers would finish at the five seed, while the Spurs stay locked in second. Assuming these teams all get past the first round, it would probably be another second round exit. Unless, San Antonio steals the first seed or LA falls down to the six or seven spot. This would be huge for the Clippers as they avoid Golden State for even longer.
If a team is an underdog in the opening round, not much is expected out of them. This takes away all the pressure for the Clippers. Blake says the team is at their best when they bring that “nothing to lose mentality.” This, too, is a big advantage that is often overlooked.
They played this way in the first round of the 2015 playoffs against San Antonio, knocking them out . This happened while the Spurs were defending champions. The Clippers were able to overcome them in a seven game series. They always play the Spurs tough, having won two of three so far in this regular season. So, despite their records, LA is the better team head to head this year.
As for the Rockets, nobody has forgotten the three to one lead collapse in the second round just after eliminating those Spurs in 2015. Revenge is a strong factor that is in play here. In addition, Houston lives and dies behind the arc. A lot of these run and gun teams go ice-cold at some point.
The Clips match up so much better against these two particular squads compared to the Warriors. Do not be alarmed if LA ends these last few games before playoffs on a losing streak. This merely sets them up as a silent underdog with their best playoff schedule yet, by having the Warriors be worn down by other competitive teams and matching up against teams they are comfortable with.