Number Four: 2015 Playoffs
The Clippers finished the 2014-2015 NBA season with a record of 56-26 and finished at third in the Western Conference. The Clippers looked strong, maybe this could be the year that they would pull it all off. There was a buzz around this team and so much energy surrounding them. This was Lob City at its peak.
Chris Paul had averaged 19 points per game and 10 assists per game. Blake Griffin also had a great year, averaging 21 points a game, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. They had an efficient 3 and D player in Matt Barnes at the small forward, and J.J. Redick providing an elite kickout option on the wing. The team was heading into the playoffs with its head held high and ready to do some damage.
The first team they faced was the sixth-seeded, defending champion, San Antonio Spurs. While there was a slight decline in play since their 2014 Finals run, the Spurs were by no means pushovers. They had a budding young star in Kawhi Leonard and a big three of their own with lots of playoff experience. The playoff series was a hard-fought battle that stretched to 7 games. It reached its pinnacle in the last few seconds when Chris Paul drove down the right side of the lane, arched back, and nailed a floater over a defending Tim Duncan in the last few seconds of the game.
The Clippers had beat the defending champions and had moved on. In the second round they faced the Houston Rockets. They jumped out to an early 3-1 lead, it looked like the team would finally reach that Western Conference Finals. Then, they fell apart. Through a cast of unlikely heroes like Josh Smith and Corey Brewer, the Rockets battled back and won three straight to win the series and advance. This playoff series in the middle of the decade was the epitome of the Clippers organization the fans had become accustomed to. Within a matter of weeks they had hit their highest of highs and lowest of lows. But this would not be the peak of the Clippers this decade.