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5 Biggest Clipper Moments of the Decade

By Bo Allen

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 1: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers stands at center court during the game against the Washington Wizards on December 1, 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 - DECEMBER 1: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers stands at center court during the game against the Washington Wizards on December 1, 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) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 02: Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers puts up the game winning shot over Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs with one second remaining in Game Seven of the Western Conference quarterfinals the 2015 NBA Playoffs as Clipper Blake Griffin stands by at Staples Center on May 2, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers won 111-109 to win the series four games to three. 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. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 02: Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers puts up the game winning shot over Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs with one second remaining in Game Seven of the Western Conference quarterfinals the 2015 NBA Playoffs as Clipper Blake Griffin stands by at Staples Center on May 2, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers won 111-109 to win the series four games to three. 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. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

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.