The LA Clippers were just about to reach another level when the NBA season was put on hold. We look at five signs their season was just getting started.
When the NBA season was suspended in mid-March, the LA Clippers were sitting in second place in the Western Conference with a record of 44-20. They were able to put together a consistent season with steady wins even in the face of injuries to some of their key players.
They were certainly on anyone’s short-list of teams with the potential to make a run at the NBA championship.
But there were also signs that for the Clippers, the best was yet to come.
The additions of superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George this past offseason elevated the Clippers to immediate championship contention. They were on everyone’s radar as one of the teams-to-beat in the NBA. However, new teams can take time to gel, learn how to play together, and find their identity. Head coach Doc Rivers would need to adjust his approach to find the right strategies and lineup combinations to maximize the potential of his deep and talented roster.
It didn’t take long for the Clippers to find their footing. They opened up the season with a statement win against their hometown rival Lakers. They won seven of their first ten games and finished November with a 14-6 record. They accomplished this all with Paul George missing the first 11 games of the season while recovering from injury.
They’ve been incredibly consistent in the rest of the season, putting up a 13-7 mark in their second 20 games of the year, and going 14-6 in their third quarter of games.
Even though the team has had consistent success throughout the year, there were signs for the Clippers that things were going to get even better very soon. Unfortunately for them, the shutdown put things on hold, and the rest of the season is still up in the air. If and when things resume, they can hopefully pick things up with the momentum they were building right before the break.
We want to take a look at five signs their season was just getting started.