2018-2019: The Underdogs No One Expected
The 2018-2019 season was probably the most fun season I have ever watched as a Clippers faithful.
The season began with rumors of Kawhi Leonard wanting to play in LA, but not for the Lakers, but he ultimately ended up with the Raptors and the rest is history.
The Clippers had quality draft picks for the first time in awhile in the 2018 NBA draft, picking at 12th and 13th. The Clippers selected Miles Bridges before trading him to Charlotte for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and shortly after selected Jerome Robinson a pick later.
The team entered the season with a roster that many considered lackluster and would be lucky to win 30 games.
Despite that, a 17-9 start saw the Clippers atop the Western Conference standings with Harris, Gallinari and Williams leading the way. Being in contention for a playoff spot made many think the Clippers would keep the roster the way it was constructed, but that was not the case.
Tobias Harris was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers along with Mike Scott and Marjanovic for Landry Shamet, Wilson Chandler and Mike Muscala along with a 2020 lottery-protected first round pick and the 2021 Miami unprotected first round pick.
The trade had many think the Clippers were attempting to tank into the lottery to get their draft pick from Boston, which was lottery protected, but the Clippers continued to win games in a quest towards the playoffs and they did just that behind the backs of a historic bench and the rookies playing well down the stretch.
The Clippers made the playoffs as an eight seed and were given the daunting task of facing Golden State, but the underdogs did not shy away. Much of the series was surrounded by Patrick Beverley and Kevin Durant’s matchup which consistent in frequent chattering and technical fouls.
The most iconic moment of this series had to be the 31-point comeback in Oracle Arena which was capped off by Landry Shamet’s three-pointer that gave the Clippers the lead and ultimately the win and shocked the NBA world by tying the series at a game a piece.
The Clippers were in game four of the series as well, which happened to be SGA’s coming out party, but the Clippers could only contend for so long as they ultimately lost in six but showed they had a strong supporting cast fro Kawhi Leonard and other marquee free agents.
What else did this past season do? It proved that the Clippers are not only one of the best well-run teams in basketball but all of sports. The front office is consistent in their decision making and has made countless smart decisions in the short time it has been together. At the time of writing, it is Kawhi Leonard or bust for the Los Angeles Clippers, but even if they strikeout on Board Man, the team is set up well for the future with young assets and draft picks ready to go and keep improving.
The Clippers over the past decade have created a culture of their own and given them an identity of being a gritty team that finds a way to compete no matter the circumstances. The Clippers may still be looked at as the little brother to the Lakers in Los Angeles, but if Kawhi decides to become a Clipper, ten years from now I could be recapping a decade marked by title wins and consistent winning.
No matter what happens over these next few days or weeks, remember where the Clippers were when they drafted Blake Griffin number one overall and where they are now. The team has improved so much over the stretch of ten years and still has even more room to improve now. Don’t let the headlines fool you, the Clippers are a team who wins, that is what they are known for now and will be known as for seasons to come.