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LA Clippers: The Perfect Playoff Scenario in 2019

By Ryan Snellings

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Sindarius Thornwell #0, Jerome Robinson #10, and Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers react to a play during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 31, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Sindarius Thornwell #0, Jerome Robinson #10, and Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers react to a play during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 31, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 19: Sindarius Thornwell #0, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 and Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers celebrate their victory against the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center on March 19, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 19: Sindarius Thornwell #0, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 and Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers celebrate their victory against the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center on March 19, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /

With playoff seeding still up in the air, let’s take a look at what has to happen for the LA Clippers to get their ideal playoff seeding.

Only three games remain in the schedule, but we still have no idea who the LA Clippers will be facing in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. A loss last night to the Houston Rockets has the Clips currently sitting in the sixth seed at 47-32, which would mean a date with Houston in the first round.

That’s not ideal. What is?

In this writer’s opinion, the best possible case for the Clippers would be for the team to remain the sixth seed, but to have the Trail Blazers pass the Rockets for third place. Assuming all other things stand as they are, this would mean a matchup with the Blazers in the first round, followed by a second round series against the winner of the second and seventh seed match-up, which is the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Staying in sixth place also means LA would not have to worry about facing the Warriors until the Western Conference Finals, assuming both teams make it that far. (The Warriors will, the Clippers….eh?)

A lot has to happen for this scenario to play out, so let’s take a look at the simplest path. Tiebreakers could come into affect, so make sure you familiarize yourself with how those are determined.

There will be a lot of conjecture going forward, so bare with me. I have no idea how the next week will play out, so all I can do is look at the schedule and make assumptions to my best ability. (We all know what happens when you assume though!)

Let’s start with what we can expect from LA over their final three games.

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