The Los Angeles Clippers have made it to the playoffs for five consecutive years. Every year they are regarded as 'title contenders' but have never made it to the western conference finals. Can they really compete for a championship? Do they have what it takes?
On paper, yes they can. They have the talent, the size, the athleticism, and a championship-caliber coach in Doc Rivers. They started the 2016-17 NBA season with a 14-2 record before losing three straight road games to the Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, and even the lowly Brooklyn Nets. They then bounced back with a solid win against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New Orleans Pelicans. They lost again to the Pacers and got schooled by the Golden State Warriors.
Their 115-98 loss to the Warriors served as a reality check. The Warriors led by as many as 27 points despite shooting only 7-30 from deep. They jumped on the Clippers in the first quarter 37-19 and forced them to commit nine turnovers, five from Blake Griffin. The Warriors asserted themselves against the number one ranked defense in the league and went on to finish the game shooting 47.7 percent from the field.
Doc Rivers said his team lost their spirit because of their early turnovers and Blake Griffin and Chris Paul agreed with Rivers. JJ Redick, who put up just four shots the entire game, said they have got to start playing with more joy. "Basketball's meant to be fun," Redick said. We're serious but I just think we're better when we play with joy," he added.
Mo Speights, who played three seasons with the Warriors before signing with the Clippers, confessed that when he was with the Warriors, the strategy was always to break the spirit of the Clippers early.
The Clippers kept barking at the referee all game long and their focus was all over the place. Paul received a technical foul in the first quarter and the starters never really got going. Their bench, led by Jamal Crawford's 21, scored 57 of the team's 98 points.
"We have to be resilient," Griffin said. It's going to take more than resiliency if they want to contend for a title. The Clippers will face the Warriors three more times in the regular season and they have to bring it together if they want to get their revenge.