For the first time this season, the LA Clippers have lost three games in a row. On Thursday night, the team dropped their third straight to the Washington Wizards, 119-117. In a game that saw Paul George as a late-game scratch, the Clips just didn’t have enough.
As the team limps to the All-Star break, fans have taken to social media to voice all their concerns with this team. There have been demands for trades, indictments that the team isn’t a real contender, and a sense of dread for the second half of the season.
Do the Clippers have issues they need to iron out in the second half of the season? Of course. Every team does.
I’m not that worried and honestly, you shouldn’t be either. Here are three reasons why.
Reason to not be concerned for the LA Clippers: Skids happen to everyone
“What!? You’re telling me that the Clippers aren’t the only team to struggle as of late!?”
Yep. This Reddit post points out something about three of the top teams in the Western Conference.
"The Lakers, Jazz, and Clippers are limping into the All-Star Break. They are all under .500 in their last 7 games and are all going into the break on a losing streak. Lakers are 2-5 in their last 7 Clippers are 3-4 in their last 7 Jazz are 3-4 in their last 7."
Well, look at that. As someone pointed out on Twitter, the Clippers and Lakers are actually even worse over their last ten games. According to ESPN, the Lakers are just 3-7 while the Clippers are 4-6. The Jazz’s skid is more recent with them being a positive 6-4 over their last ten.
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Now, Clipper Nation. I know we aren’t supposed to like the Lakers but are any of you looking at that 3-7 record over the last ten games and thinking “Wow. The Lakers aren’t a contender and need to make a major trade”?
I highly doubt it.
For a bit more context, the Lakers had a four-game losing streak last season, three of which were close games:
- December 17: LAL 102 IND 105
- December 19: LAL 104 MIL 111
- December 22: LAL 104 DEN 128
- December 25: LAL 106 LAC 111
In that losing streak, Anthony Davis missed the game versus Indiana and LeBron James missed the game versus Denver.
Similarly, Paul George sat out of Thursday’s contest versus Washington while Kawhi Leonard missed the previous outing versus Boston.
Skids happen, especially when injuries are present.