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Three takeaways from the LA Clippers’ first-round loss to Golden State

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers scores on a layup past Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in a 129-110 Clipper loss during Game Six of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 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.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 26: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers scores on a layup past Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors in a 129-110 Clipper loss during Game Six of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 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. /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 26: Lou Williams #23, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 and Danilo Gallinari #8 of the LA Clippers wait for the start of play trailing the Golden State Warriors by double digits in a 129-110 loss during Game Six of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 26: Lou Williams #23, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 and Danilo Gallinari #8 of the LA Clippers wait for the start of play trailing the Golden State Warriors by double digits in a 129-110 loss during Game Six of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

The Clippers don’t have just one MVP

I’ve been wondering for a while now who the LA Clippers’ Most Valuable Player is, and I don’t know that I can really come to a solid conclusion on that. A few names stick out more than others, but it’s difficult to value someone’s contributions over another’s when they were equally amazing.

The best conclusion I came to is this: The LA Clippers would not have gotten here if it wasn’t for each other. And as cheesy as that may sound, I think it’s the honest truth. And this series did enough to show that.

It’s impossible to run through this roster, pre-trade deadline and post-, and point to one guy individually and say, “Oh yeah, he’s the reason why the Clippers had this season”. You can’t do it.

Lou Williams was absolutely incredible this season, and I feel like people will probably point to him as being the team’s MVP. And while he may have been the team’s best offensive player, clutch performer and swagger champion, he probably wouldn’t have had as incredible a season had it not been for Montrezl Harrell coming off the bench with him.

Both of those two players were phenomenal against the Golden State Warriors, combining to average 40 points per game off the bench. That’s a skewed number, too, since Golden State was able to prevent them from doing too much damage in Game 6.

Danilo Gallinari had a comeback season for the ages, as did Patrick Beverley. The two combined to play in just 32 games for last year’s Clippers, compared to 146 this season. And not only that, but the two each played some of the best basketball of their careers this year, with Gallinari in particular logging high-marks in points, rebounds and assists.

Gallinari didn’t have the most incredible postseason, by any stretch. But as others have pointed out, that’s not entirely his fault. Gallinari was thrust into a role that he didn’t seem comfortable with against Golden State, and they found a way to punish him for a good chunk of the series. He impressed in the final few games, but the whole thing emphasized that he’s best as a complimentary star that’s capable of knocking down any shot at a high clip.

Beverley, on the other hand, looked like he was born for the moment. His defense pestered Kevin Durant and a few other Warriors players over the course of all six games, and despite standing just an inch over six feet, Beverley was one of the best rebounders in the series. Had it not been for him, it’s hard to imagine the Clippers doing a whole lot of anything defensively against Golden State.

The point here is that credit is due everywhere, and picking just one player for this award would be completely in contrast with the mentality and attitude this team maintained all season long. You just can’t do it.

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