The Los Angeles Clippers have had a knack for staying in the spotlight ever since David Stern vetoed a trade that would’ve sent Chris Paul to the Lakers in 2011. After that trade was vetoed Paul made his way to Los Angeles, but ended up being a Clipper and the rest is history. I want to say I’m a Lakers fan, but I didn’t bring up the veto out of saltiness, I brought it up because since that time the Clippers have been on the come up and thought to be the next big thing in the NBA.
With Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul as the Clippers big three they were in a good place. They were even able to add head coach Doc Rivers who is known for leading the Celtics to a championship in 2008.
The Clippers have been impressive during the regular season, but have had bad luck during the postseason. During the 2015 playoffs they knocked off then defending champions San Antonio Spurs, just to be up on the Houston Rockets and lose in a game 7 in a series everybody pegged them to win especially after beating the Spurs. The collapse in the Rockets series was epic, if you are a Clipper fan you are probably crying as you are reading this.
Fast forward to the 2016 playoffs, after the Golden State Warriors pulled off a 73-9 record setting regular season it seemed it was Warriors or nothing coming out of the West in then Steph Curry slips on a wet spot in the floor game 4 against the Rockets and sprains his MCL so he is out at least two weeks. Within 24 hours the Clippers go from seeing hopes of at least heading to the Western Conference Finals fade to we will try again next year as Chris Paul broke his hand and Blake Griffin reinjured his quad muscle in the same game. With those major injuries the Clippers loss to the Portland Trail Blazers and it’s back to the drawing board.
With the team getting a year older do they blow it up? Does Jordan develop some post moves this off season? Can he shoot his free throws at a 60% clip? Does Griffin stay in off the court trouble next season? Will Rivers be the general manager? So many questions and not enough answers to reverse quote Jay-Z. To say the least the Clippers are the most interesting basketball story in The Staples Center, but they just can’t get right.
