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LA Clippers: Is winning a home court spot crucial in 2021?

By Jordan German

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 18: Limited capacity fans attend the Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves basketball game at Staples Center on April 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. It has been over a year since fans have gathered at the Staples Center due to the coronavirus pandemic. 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 18: Limited capacity fans attend the Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves basketball game at Staples Center on April 18, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. It has been over a year since fans have gathered at the Staples Center due to the coronavirus pandemic. 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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Feb 15, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; A detailed view of the LA Clippers logo at center court at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; A detailed view of the LA Clippers logo at center court at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

The LA Clippers have already clinched a spot in the top six of the West, but they have yet to clinch home-court advantage in the first round. Is the home-court advantage for the team nearly as important as it seems?

It has been another excellent regular season for the LA Clippers, and they have now clinched their ninth playoff berth in the past 10 years, but for the team to guarantee Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs, they are still one win away. There are many questions to be asked about this Clippers team in the playoffs — the main one being about their chances of making it past the first round with their rotten luck. However, there is one last regular-season question.

How important is home-court advantage for the LA Clippers this season?

The answer to that question can be answered thanks to some historical and current context. Just looking at the regular season numbers, the LA Clippers love to play at the Staples Center much more than any other arena. With two home games still remaining at the moment, the Clippers are 25-9 at Staples in 2020-21, and they went 27-9 at home last year.

In nine out of their last 10 seasons, the Clippers have not had a single season in which their away record was within 4 wins of their home record, and the exception was the 2 more wins at home they had in 2017-2018, the only season in the past decade that saw the Clippers miss the playoffs. As nice as these home numbers are, they are completely wiped away with the actual home record the Clippers have put up in the playoffs.

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