The LA Clippers finished with one of their best seasons in franchise history by appearing in their first Western Conference Finals.
Despite losing small forward Kawhi Leonard to a knee injury in the middle of the Utah Jazz series, the Clippers finished the last two games to win the series. The Clippers even made a series out of the Phoenix Suns before running out of gas in six games.
The Clippers had a fantastic 2021 NBA Draft process with three potential impact players, including shooting guard/small forward Keon Johnson. They had a better free agency process by re-signing Leonard, point guard Reggie Jackson, and power forward Nicolas Batum. The Clippers also traded for point guard Eric Bledsoe and picked up guard/forward Justise Winslow. It was tough for the Clippers to trade guard Patrick Beverley, but it was all a part of a plan for saving tax exceptions and opening up roster spots while getting rid of Rajon Rondo.
The team and Clipper Nation feel good about the potential of this roster that returns most of their impact players this past season. Outside of the team and the fan base, there aren’t media outlets giving the Clippers faith in the potential they can bring this upcoming 2021-2022 NBA season.
LA Clippers in ESPN Power Rankings – No. 10
In the post-free agency NBA power rankings by ESPN, the Clippers were placed tenth in the rankings. According to the rankings, the Clippers were placed behind six teams that did not make the Eastern or Western Conference Finals.
ESPN had the four teams eliminated in the second round in the playoffs, including the Utah Jazz. They also had two teams that were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in the Los Angeles Lakers (No. 3) and the Miami Heat (No. 8).
ESPN moved the Lakers and the Heat due to the key veterans they acquired in free agency. It is no surprise that ESPN annually renewed title considerations of the Lakers since they acquired Russell Westbrook and a whole group of older veterans that includes Carmelo Anthony. Miami, on the other hand, got a key veteran and orchestrator of the offense in point guard Kyle Lowry.
The main reason for the drop of the Clippers in the rankings is the injury concerns for Leonard. There is a lack of ideal picture of the potential return of Leonard, but even more so from how seven-time NBA All-Star small forward Paul George can control his team.
LA Clippers in the Bleacher Report Power Rankings – No. 18
It should be no surprise that the Clippers do not get much respect in Bleacher Report’s power rankings despite a great NBA Draft and free agency. Bleacher Report is a media outlet that prefers to focus on the Lakers when it comes to the city of Los Angeles, even before James arrived on the team. To have the Clippers at 18th in the power rankings solely based on Leonard’s injury and the uncertainty of when he returns this upcoming season is a bit much.
Bleacher Report has 17 teams ahead of the Clippers in the rankings, including four teams that did not make the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
The Golden State Warriors get a pass on this because of injuries to five-time NBA All-Star shooting guard Klay Thompson. The Pacers and Hornets were teams that had a great 2021 NBA Draft but no addition of an NBA All-Star. The Bulls had a fantastic NBA free agency so far this off-season, but the jury is out if they are a true Eastern Conference Finals contender.
Both the Mavericks and the Jazz, teams eliminated by the Clippers in the playoffs, were ranked above them despite not making key additions in free agency. The Lakers were not surprisingly ranked third in the power rankings, while the Heat were ranked fourth.
While there is a legitimate concern of the ACL injury to Leonard for the Clippers, for the team to place #18 in the power rankings, despite returning their core, two more key veterans and three solid draft picks is more oblivious than accurate.
It is a clear oversight of what the team can do with what George, Jackson, Marcus Morris Sr., and Terance Mann can do on offense. On the defensive side of the ball, the Clippers have stellar defensive players in George, Morris, Batum, Mann, and Bledsoe. Leonard’s injury is more of an excuse for individuals and media outlets to overlook the Clippers’ potential in the upcoming NBA season, and Bleacher Report is another example.