The Clippers continue to show that they are never down and out of a series.
If you’re one of the loyal LA Clippers fans since they arrived in Los Angeles in 1984, watching these 2021 playoffs is not for the faint of heart. Once the Clippers go down 0-2 at the start of each series, fans may not openly suggest that the Clippers are done, but deep down inside, it’s what they probably believe based on past playoff frustrations.
After the horrendous Game 2 loss on the last second dunk by DeAndre Ayton, it would have been easy to write the Clippers off at that point. It may have been the most demoralizing loss in the franchise’s history. But what do this version of the Clippers do? They go out in Game 3, make a defensive adjustment on Devin Booker, and defeat the Suns 106-92 and regain momentum in this series.
The LA Clippers are not allowing injury excuses to permeate their locker room.
Because of injuries to Kawhi Leonard, Serge Ibaka, and now Marcus Morris Sr., the Clippers could easily use the injury excuse if they lose any playoff games moving forward. However, team leader Paul George and Coach Ty Lue will not use the injuries as a reason why they lose a game or do not play well.
The depth of the Clippers roster is starting to show its effectiveness in these 2021 playoffs. No one can replace Leonard, but the Clippers can bring in a nice young player in Terance Mann who will not embarrass himself while on the floor. Serge Ibaka has been out of the lineup most of the year, but they can bring in Ivica Zubac and now DeMarcus Cousins to provide quality minutes at the center position. And now that Morris is hobbling with a knee injury, the Clippers truly have that “next man up” mentality as they have had since the start of the season.
Just making the Western Conference Finals is not good enough.
It would be easy to excuse this team if they rested on their laurels at this point in the playoffs and celebrate the fact that they “at least” made it to the Western Conference Finals. However, this Clipper team is obviously not playing like they are satisfied. They want to win the NBA Championship, with or without Leonard. They are obviously a very tough team and are laser focused on the prize at hand.
As I stated on my last LACourtsidePod episode, this team is poised to do something special this year. As fans though, we just wish that watching these Clippers play is a little less stressful on the heart.