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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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OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 24: Montrezl Harrell #5 celebrates with Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers after the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game Five of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 24: Montrezl Harrell #5 celebrates with Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers after the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game Five of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The LA Clippers are just getting started

The LA Clippers have been given a million reasons to quit.

Before the NBA season even began, before they tipped-off in their first preseason game, the Clippers had their doubters. ESPN, Bleacher Report and The Washington Post (among many others) all undersold the team, each projecting the Clippers to miss the playoffs and win roughly 35 games.

Later in the year, when it became evident that the Clippers were going to crush that projection, the team made a surprising deal to send Tobias Harris, arguably their best player, over to the Philadelphia 76ers. Upon first glance, it didn’t seem like the Clippers returned enough to help them remain in the playoff race, and plenty of people assumed they would bow out altogether.

Well, that just wasn’t the case.

Instead, the Clippers never relented en route to the playoffs, and put forth one heck of an effort against the Golden State Warriors. They proved all the points they needed to make. They showed the basketball world that they belonged, and that they’re much closer to contending than almost anyone thought they would be.

And they’re only going to get better from here.

With two possible max-level slots in play this summer, the Clippers have a chance to add some of the best players in basketball to their already-talented roster, and if they play their cards right, keep most of that roster intact.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Landry Shamet, Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell are all among the group of players that are already signed through next season, and I would expect the Clippers to make a strong effort to bring back guys like Patrick Beverley and JaMychal Green as well.

Pair that with an elite talent like Kevin Durant or Kawhi Leonard, both of whom are rumored to be in LA’s sights this offseason, and you’ve got a team that’s set to challenge the NBA’s best for years to come.

Stephen A. Smith thinks KD, Kawhi join Clippers. dark. Next

The series may not have ended the way we’d hoped, but LA Clippers fans should be satisfied with the outcome and the future they have set up. They fought hard, played together and proved why they’re LA’s team.

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