It’s obvious: the ultimate goal for the LA Clippers by the end of game 82 is to be the seventh seed. Why? Well, the Clippers want a matchup with the San Antonio Spurs more than arguably anyone else in the first round. To do that, they can finish right where they are(eighth) and win the first battle of the play-in tournament on the road.
Fortunately, everything is falling into the Clippers’ favor. The eighth seed will likely not be going anywhere, as Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (ninth), who are already without Jimmy Butler, will still be out for some time. In addition, there are no signs that the first seed will fall out of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s hands, leaving the Spurs second.
All the Clippers need to do is keep their head up, chins high, and continue to win, and they’ll be on the first plane to San Antonio right after the play-in.
The Clippers specifically want the Spurs in the first-round
The question you may wonder, “Why would the LA Clippers want the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs?” might be looming. At first glance, with Victor Wembanyama, the former rookie of the year in Stephon Castle, a two-time All-Star in De’Aaron Fox, and so much more, San Antonio is not the team to face.
However, that is not the case for the Clippers. They have a key advantage through experience that can significantly impact the outcome of a seven-game series. This is what happens when a roster is built from the ground up; it can take extra time to get everyone seasoned.
In fact, the Spurs are in a six-season drought. Yes, you heard that right; the last time they were in the playoffs was 2018-19, where they lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round. Since then, their coaching, roster, and personnel have undergone massive changes.
If that wasn’t enough of a reason, the Clippers proved on Friday, March 6th, that they can handle the Spurs. Sure, they blew a massive lead and collapsed completely with under one minute left.
But the fact that they were, at one point, up by 25 points, without Darius Garland, speaks volumes.
So, all things considered, of course, the Clippers would want the Spurs. They also employ the best postseason performer in basketball, with Kawhi Leonard, who no one wants to see.
From then on, the rest of the bracket for LA is relatively easy, as, assuming everything goes to plan, they may not have to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder until the conference finals.