What we learned from the LA Clippers’ loss to the Bucks
LA Clippers look like their old, never-say-die selves
There were several times Wednesday night in which the LA Clippers could have thrown in the towel and looked ahead to Thursday night’s meeting with the Portland Trail Blazers. There was that time in the second quarter when they went down by 17, that time late in the third when they went down by 10 and that time midway through the fourth when they went down by 14.
In some ways, that would have been alright, too. Kawhi Leonard wasn’t suited up against Milwaukee, and if a win seemed to be far out of reach, it would have been smart to pull the better players off the floor in preparation for what should be a tough game against the Blazers.
The Clippers didn’t do that, though. Instead, they kept fighting — severely outmatched in terms of talent — and came close to pulling off an upset.
At times, they looked like the team that we enjoyed watching so much last season. The one that came back from 20+ points down and won on numerous occasions. The one that went down by 31 points in the first round of the playoffs against the reigning champions and pulled off the most unlikely of victories.
These Clippers had that same fight in them.
No lead was safe for Milwaukee. Whenever they went up by a bunch, the Clippers fought tooth-and-nail to erase the deficit. The only problem was that they could never quite pull ahead.
That’s where Leonard and Paul George come in.
Those two were the missing pieces to last year’s squad — the pieces that would have put them over the top and won games like the ones the Clippers played Wednesday. Now, they have them, and they’ll both be back on the floor sooner than later.
If they keep this same attitude and continue to pull off improbable comebacks, the Clippers are going to be very scary once they’re in order.
Next. Rumor: Paul George likely to return next week. dark
The LA Clippers will get a shot at their sixth win of the season tonight when they take on the Portland Trail Blazers.