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LA Clippers: Examining the Team’s Three Biggest Risks in 2019-20

By Jose Salviati

LA Clippers logo (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LA Clippers logo (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 26: Chuck The Condor waves a flag before Game Six of Round One between the Golden State Warriors and the LA Clippers during the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 26: Chuck The Condor waves a flag before Game Six of Round One between the Golden State Warriors and the LA Clippers during the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /

With the NBA calendar reaching a lull, we take a look at three potential risks for the LA Clippers during the 2019-20 season.

If you are a fan of the NBA you are familiar with the Association’s seasons. No, I don’t mean season as in when games are played, I mean seasons as in winter, spring, summer and fall, but for basketball fans. You have to be a real fan, not just a band-wagoner who watches the last two minutes of a game to understand what that means. A real fan who can name every player on your favorite team and a few on their G-League affiliate.

You know who you are.

You also know the seasons. You may not have ever heard them described as seasons, but that is exactly what they are. There is “game season”, “aftermath”, “award/build” and “lull”.

Game season is exactly what it sounds like. It starts in October and ends whenever your team is sent fishing or raises the Larry O’Brien. It’s game-time, its tip-off; for fans of the Association it’s the greatest season of them all. Until it ends too early for your team which leads to the next season.

The aftermath is not a long season. It generally lasts from the time your team is eliminated until June when award/build starts. Aftermath is a dreary time for most. If their team went home too soon some fans react by not watching any more games. It’s just too painful. Others adopt other teams in the short-term because, eh, its better than nothing. It’s a confusing time.

Thankfully, award/build follows soon. This is the season where fans of the Association watch to see who won the best this and the best that. Watching your favorite player called to the stage helps take the sting out of any early exit. That celebration marks the unofficial end of one year of competition and the start of the next. That is when the build begins. The draft and free agency periods are the hallmarks of this season.

After that exciting season comes…the lull

We are in the lull now and it’s as unrewarding as ever. All that fans of the Association can do during the least enticing season of the year, which begins after the last top free agent is signed, is to wait . Wait and contemplate. It’s the worst.

Generally, conversation during this time is optimistic. By the time the lull rolls around your team is mostly set and ready to compete. During this time fans think about what could go right and argue with fans of their teams rivals. Optimism is a crucial part of surviving the lull; it’s about making the best of a bad situation.

The problem for us as writers is that we can only tell you good things for so long. The Clippers award/build season was historic. It’s not a stretch to say they are among the favorites to win a championship. We have told you that here on Clipperholics. Matter of fact, you can find lots of information about what could right for the Clippers without much of an effort.

But, what about what could go wrong?

I realize that’s not necessarily a popular take, but discussing it can serve two purposes. First, it helps Clippers fans to look at their team objectively. I’m told fans of other teams find that, umm, hard to do that. Also, it breaks up the monotony of the lull!

As alluded to earlier and documented everywhere, the Clippers did an incredible job this off-season. They are, without a doubt, primed for their best season. They have two legitimate All-Stars, a deep bench, great defensive players, shooting, a great coach and more. But they do have gaps.

Now, like with any gap on any thing, it could just stay a gap. Something quaint that screams personality like Michael Strahan’s tooth gap. Or, it could grow and fester into something dangerous, like Michael Strahan’s exit from Live! with Kelly and Michael which was called “…one of the biggest scandals daytime television had seen in years.”

Scary stuff.

So, what are the Clippers risks/gaps as they prepare to begin the 2019-20 season? I am calling out three in no particular order. Before I dig into them however I want to let you know that I am not counting injuries as a risk. Of course they will happen. They happen to every team; it just feels wrong to predict then discuss them. Instead, the focus is on what can go wrong that is non-injury related.

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