A team that almost accomplishes something great in the NBA, such as winning a series in the NBA Playoffs, typically does not hold much value; yet, in some cases, certain losses are approached with a grain of salt. This applies to the underdog within the circumstances, as putting up a decisive battle in a war that was expected to be easily won still receives credit.
Furthermore, the term 'almost' has been correlated with the LA Clippers' loss to the Denver Nuggets. The exit was early, in the first round, but fans gave props to LA once the NBA Finals were over. This is due to the way the postseason unfolded, much like how the Clippers were on the edge of taking down Denver, the Oklahoma City Thunder were on the verge of losing to the Nuggets.
Moreover, going into next season with a Clippers' core that was kept together would have been concerning, but not anything significant, given the All-NBA selection from James Harden in the regular season and how Kawhi Leonard supplied several elite performances in round one.
In the offseason, executive Lawrence Frank retained the players who deserved to be kept and replaced the rest with better talent. But, the Clippers are still being written off, and the excuses are unfathomable.
The LA Clippers are a threat if health breaks right, inevitably proving those writing them off to be a mistake
Chris Paul and Brook Lopez were the only offseason additions that checked off entirely, with the remaining available for the LA Clippers. This could be an issue, as John Collins and Bradley Beal have a known history of injuries, but it should not be a reason for fans to overlook the Clippers.
The Clippers' age, as one of the oldest teams of the 21st century, is also a concern, which justifies many fans' reluctance to consider them a true contender. This is fair, considering key players like Lopez, Paul, James Harden, and Nicolas Batum are 35 and older.
Conversely, the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers, led by the greatest player of this generation and an all-time great, LeBron James, featured a superstar on a winning roster that was mostly comprised of veterans nearing the end of their careers. Context matters, as the Lakers achieved greatness during the pandemic, but every championship includes adversity and hardships, and Los Angeles persevered with aging talents.
That said, the Clippers should not be written off, as they have a trustworthy rotation with quality coaching, making them a threat that has earned the right to be taken seriously.