Why Clippers v Raptors is more than just a matchup of conference heavyweights

The LA Clippers and Toronto Raptors will compete tonight in a matchup between two conference heavyweights — but the implications go far beyond this season.

The LA Clippers have played several big games this season, particularly in the month of November. Over the course of three games near the middle of the month, LA knocked off the East-leading Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs. It was the beginning of a five-game win-streak that would vault them to the top of the Western Conference.

Since then, the Clippers have been more up-and-down, going 6-4 in the 10 games since their streak came to an end. Even more recently, this LA team has looked, at times, completely disinterested in basketball. Before last night’s win over the Phoenix Suns, the Clippers had dropped two straight against the Memphis Grizzlies, scoring 184 points between the pair — a season-low for consecutive game scoring.

The short-lived reign over the Western Conference was a sign of things to come, but only if the Clippers could keep up their stellar play. And lately, the unit hasn’t been able to.

So in a lot of ways, tonight’s matchup with the Toronto Raptors couldn’t have come at a better time.

It’s an excruciatingly important game, for obvious reasons. A win tonight may bring back the confidence and physical attitude that the Clippers have been lacking for the last few games. But in addition to that, it could prove to Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard that the Clippers’ culture is a desirable one to be a part of.

The league’s tampering rule keeps us from knowing what exactly NBA executives are thinking, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any signs. Take former color analyst Bruce Bowen’s firing, for example, as a sign that the Clippers care an awful lot about what Leonard thinks about them.

In June, Bowen made critical comments about Leonard, specifically questioning his leadership and calling him out for leaving his team in the dark. He was fired in August after he said the following:

"“First, it was, ‘Well I was misdiagnosed.’ Look here: You got $18 million this year, and you think that they’re trying to rush you? You didn’t play for the most part a full season this year. And you’re the go-to guy, you’re the franchise and you want to say that they didn’t have your best interest at heart? Are you kidding me?”“Not one time has Kawhi come out and said anything to the effect of, ‘You know what, hey, I really enjoy being in San Antonio.’ Or, ‘I can’t stand what’s going on here in San Antonio. Not one time has he said anything.”“As a player, if I’m a leader of a team, my team goes on the road in the playoffs, I’m with my guys. Because that’s what it’s all about. It’s about camaraderie. It’s about fellowship. It’s a brotherhood. When that didn’t happen, it’s all kinds of sirens and alarm signals that says to me, ‘Is this person fully vested?’ … I don’t want to take on a player who’s not willing to support his guys during the course of their time needing him.”"

There’s no telling whether Bowen’s comments would have pushed Leonard away from joining the LA Clippers, but by not taking any risks, the organization showed us where their heads are at, and reasonably so.

After all, Leonard is a fun guy, as well as a two-time All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. He’s a generational talent if ever there was one.

Los Angeles is projected to have two max slots available next summer once free agency rolls around. Leonard, who has been non-committal about his future plans, will likely be the team’s top target.

Tonight is the first step in securing his talents and building a team that could potentially bring the LA Clippers to its highest point in franchise history. You better believe there will be more than a few sweaty brows and anxious minds tonight at STAPLES Center.