It’s no secret that the first few months of the LA Clippers season was a disappointment. In January, they finally turned it around and started to look like the team they were supposed to be from the beginning. The recent success was met with a roster shake-up in February, trading James Harden to Cleveland and Ivica Zubac to Indiana.
Despite the moves, the team has still been competitive. Over the past week, the Clippers have lost three straight games in the clutch, giving up fewer points each time. Now, up ahead, they play a handful of bottom-half teams, giving them the perfect opportunity to flip the script on their season.
Clippers new additions are the key to a positive streak
We have yet to see Darius Garland, who was acquired in the James Harden trade, but Bennedict Mathurin from the Indiana Pacers has been an instant impact player. Since his arrival, Mathurin has been averaging over 20 points and 6 rebounds per game, taking over the Harden scoring role while primarily coming off the bench (he has started once in six games played for the team).
In regards to Garland, Law Murray of ‘The Athletic’ reported that Garland could make his Clippers debut on Monday against the Golden State Warriors. Inserting him into the lineup would be a huge addition, not only for his offensive impact that would relieve Kawhi Leonard of scoring responsibilities, but also for leadership down the stretch.
Wins against bad teams are essential for a strong finish
The LA Clippers' stretch starts off against the New Orleans Pelicans, who have been a bottom-three team in the Western Conference, but are on a four-game win streak. They will also be traveling to the Intuit Dome on the second night of a back-to-back, which is good for the Clippers, as they have a rest advantage that could be the difference-maker.
The second game of the week is against the Indiana Pacers, who currently have 45 losses one season after making the finals. It is also worth noting they are heavily injured, making it another must-win game for the Clippers.
Following the Pacers, the Clippers head on the road to face the Golden State Warriors. With Jimmy Butler out for the season and Stephen Curry possibly missing this one, the Warriors are a team searching for an identity.
The only true test comes next, against the San Antonio Spurs, who hold the third-best record in the league. Brook Lopez and John Collins will have to be on their A-game when trying to contain Victory Wembanyama, and offensively, everyone will have to picth in. Yet, after that, it is the Memphis Grizzlies, which is a very winnable matchup.
That said, the push for the eighth seed starts with the Pelicans. If the Clippers can go 4-1, they will gain much better positioning in the play-in. If they exceed this and go 5-0, they will surpass the .500 mark, ultimately signaling to the league that they fulfilled their goal, and are not finished.