The Los Angeles Clippers have been a pleasant shock within the NBA since bouncing again from a tough begin as soon as James Harden joined the crew on the finish of October.
Nevertheless, by the top of November, the Clippers had gotten right into a groove and commenced to gel with their new playmaking teammate. Regardless of how good they’ve been the previous few months, there’s all the time one thing at the back of your thoughts that tells you all that glitters isn’t gold.
There’s a degree of discernment with this crew and it reared its ugly head once more, Monday night time in Milwaukee.
That’s been the story of those Kawhi Leonard and Paul George Clippers since they touched down in L.A. We’re in 12 months 5 of this run they usually aren’t any nearer to profitable a championship than they had been upon arriving. One Western Convention Finals look since 2019 is not what crew governor Steve Ballmer is searching for. He’s spent all this cash bringing these guys in to win championships.
Monday night time needed to be one of the vital irritating video games of the season as his crew visited the Bucks minus Giannis Antetokounmpo. With Leonard, George, and James Harden all on the courtroom, enjoying not less than 36 minutes every, L.A. misplaced 113-106. They allowed Damian Lillard to take over and cook dinner them for 41 factors. Bobby Portis added 28 factors in an general shocking show with out Giannis.
Certain, it’s simply certainly one of 82 video games however that is one the Clippers ought to win each time regardless of the place it’s performed. Put ‘em on the moon and go away Antetokounmpo on earth, LA ought to win simply. Now after all, there’s the excuse of enjoying the second night time of back-to-back video games, after a powerful win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. However these causes are precisely why you may’t belief this crew to come back by when it actually issues.
For the Clippers it’s acquired to be championship or bust this 12 months after bringing in Harden and the run they’ve gone on since. Russell Westbrook is out after having hand surgical procedure lately however hopes to be again for the playoffs. This squad constructed round Leonard and George has come up brief each season but a few of these nationwide speaking heads proceed to purchase into the mirage.
We proceed to observe this story play out and it’s the identical end result every time. Kawhi has even stayed wholesome enjoying in 55 of 60 to this point. Even with this and the way properly Harden has slot in coupled with George, Westbrook, and others, it nonetheless feels too good to be true. The Harden collapse is normally inevitable in Might, no matter Westbrook has as soon as he returns is but to be seen, and George has additionally come up brief within the postseason at occasions.
If Leonard is on the courtroom, they’ve acquired a shot it doesn’t matter what else occurs however up till now, it hasn’t occurred. After watching 4 years of every thing that might go improper truly come to fruition for the Clippers, no one ought to belief them to get the job performed and make it by the West. We hear discuss of curses in sports activities on a regular basis and the Clippers are definitely a kind of groups with bizarre power permeating all through the group.
