Clippers: Despite being shorthanded, the Clips continue to amaze

Despite a bevy of injuries, the LA Clippers continue to amaze their critics, and maybe even some of their ardent fans with unexpected victories in these 2021 NBA Playoffs.

First there was Serge Ibaka, then Kawhi Leonard, and now Ivica Zubac who are all out with injuries. Those three players alone carry a large percentage of the Clippers’ scoring and rebounding.

The Zubac injury was the latest to hit the team, as he’s been diagnosed with a sprained right MCL and was not available in Game 5. However, that did not stop the Clippers from playing one of their best games of the playoffs, as they defeated the Suns in the Valley by a score of 116-102.

LA Clippers’ superstar Paul George is proving all doubters wrong.

There have been many NBA pundits, including myself, who doubted whether or not Paul George could be a top tier and clutch performer in the playoffs. Well, George is having the last laugh as he has played at an MVP level during these playoffs.

In the Game 5 victory, George scored 41 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, tallied six assists and even had three steals. His only negative was that he committed six turnovers which can probably be excused because of the large number of minutes that he has to log for his team to be successful.

After Chris Paul sank a jump shot in the middle of the 3rd quarter that put the Suns up by a point, George took over by hitting seven of his next eight shots, including three three-point shots to put the Clippers up by 13. It was the type of individual run that makes the naysayers take notice and say ‘yes, this guy is really a legitimate superstar in this league.’

Can the Clippers continue this amazing run?

Why not? It seems as though this team is destined to make it to the NBA Finals. How can a team overcome so much adversity in a season and still play high caliber basketball against some great teams in the Western Conference?

Much of their success can be attributed to Coach Ty Lue, who despite all of the adversity, is coaching his team with the “next man up” mentality. Even Boogie Cousins played 11 minutes in Game 5 in place of Zubac and played very well.

If the Clippers win Game 6 at the Staples Center, I believe they will be in the head of the Suns, and they will take Game 7 in Phoenix led by George and the newly named Mr. June in Reggie Jackson. This run can definitely continue all the way to the NBA Finals.

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