The LA Clippers need to show us something on Christmas Day

The LA Clippers need to show us something versus Denver on Christmas Day.

The LA Clippers are officially playing on Christmas Day, the NBA announced on Tuesday. In the final game of the night, the team will face the same opponent that knocked them out of the 2019-20 playoffs – the Denver Nuggets. While this game will be one of the first of the season, the Clippers still need to show us all something.

No, I don’t necessarily mean that they need to go out and wipe the floor with the Nuggets. Hell, they don’t even have to win the game. Denver is a talented team. The Clippers do need to show us one thing that they lacked last postseason.

Heart.

The team seemingly lost all of that as they blew a 3-1 lead versus Denver. JaMychal Green, who joined the Nuggets this offseason, even noted that the Clippers lacked that in comparison and switching to a more passionate team wasn’t a “tough decision”.

This heart starts with the team’s leaders. Obviously, fans will want to see what head coach Tyronn Lue can get out of his players. Even though I’m sure he will be a great motivator, players like Paul George need to prove that they can rise up to the moment.

The team spent a lot of last season talking but ultimately did not back it up. The chatter has started again this offseason, with George himself talking about how motivated he is to be better after receiving a low 2K rating of all things. If he is going to back up his words, showing out on the national stage on Christmas is the right way to start.

In reality, the Christmas Day game is no bigger than any of the other 71 regular season games the team will play. It counts no more nor less towards the team’s record and being so early, won’t even be a great indicator of where either of the two teams will be by the end of the season. Still, heart is something that can be shown early by each individual and should be seen that night.

We’ll find out if they have what it takes in less than a month.