With how the Western Conference standings look in the last week of the regular season, there is no way of telling where the LA Clippers will finish. Now, they are the fifth seed, but if they lose another, they could fall as low as the eighth seed. In fact, there is a four-way tie at 46-32 between the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Clippers.
Furthermore, one of the possible round-one matchups for the Clippers is the Denver Nuggets. This would be a rematch from 2020, where LA blew a 3-1 lead with a healthy duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Soon after, the front office fired former head coach Doc Rivers.
However, the Clippers have more reason to want to face Denver this season. They have proven that even when superstar Nikola Jokic records scary numbers, like a 60-point triple-double, they can still go down to the wire and lose. This is because of their defensive scheme.
Additionally, premier scorer Norman Powell annihilated Denver in the four-game regular season series, which ended in a tie. Kawhi Leonard did not play, but after observing his latest showcases, he would enter destruction mode against the Nuggets.
Star big man Ivica Zubac has also had some career-worthy performances in the past over Jokic. This includes a 24-point, 15-rebound double-double in a win on October 26th of this season.
Nonetheless, the latest news regarding Denver's coaching staff is another major reason why the Clippers should focus on a path to starting their playoff run in Denver.
The Nuggets firing coach Michael Malone could weaken their chances in a series against the Clippers
Experienced coaching in the playoffs is a significant reason many teams make it deep and even win the NBA Finals. This was a pivotal advantage for the Denver Nuggets in 2023 when they raised their banner in Ball Arena.
However, the Nuggets surprisingly fired Mike Malone and general manager Calvin Booth with three games left. They have named David Adelman the interim head coach.
BREAKING: The Denver Nuggets have fired coach Michael Malone, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/bZoKRx6kgt
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 8, 2025
Moreover, before the decision to fire Malone and Booth was made, the Clippers' best chances at winning in the first round seemed to be over the Nuggets. After news broke, LA may capitalize on disaster in a 4-5 matchup.
That said, the Clippers must commit to jumping up to the fourth seed for home-court advantage. If they meet with Denver and begin at Intuit Dome, the fan base may witness an easier route to the second round.