What Are The Clippers’ Expectations for This Season?
The Clippers Traded for Harden in October and Now Have 4 Super Stars on the Roster
Super Team 🤩
The LA Clippers have been on a rollercoaster since the headline-grabbing acquisitions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in 2019. Fans’ expectations soared, but the playoffs have been a series of ups and downs. This tale of talent, expectations, and the harsh reality of playoff basketball, as explored in the 2023-24 Clippers Season Preview, paints a vivid picture of a team constantly on the brink of success when NBA games matter the most.
Think back to the NBA Bubble in 2020. The Clippers, with a roster that screamed championship according to Nuggets. It wasn’t just a loss; it was a jolt for the team and its fans. But let’s not dwell too long on past woes.
The focus now shifts to how the team has evolved since then, especially with the addition of dynamic NBA players like Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
Paul George, known for his cool demeanor and sharpshooting, has been a playoff regular with impressive numbers when he’s been able to play. George has averaged 24.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 39.2 minutes over 32 playoff games for the Clippers in two years.
Dad tell me about 2021 playoffs Paul George pic.twitter.com/YzJbYQwOkg
— Dreko🌟🇧🇸 Clips (16-10) (@Kzray_) October 27, 2023
Kawhi Leonard, when healthy, is also a force of nature, offering both offensive brilliance and defensive prowess. The two-time NBA champion has averaged 29.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 39.3 minutes over 26 playoff games for the Clippers in three years.
Russell Westbrook brings an unmatched intensity and triple-double potential, albeit with some playoff inconsistencies, though he stepped up last year, averaging 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists in 38.4 minutes over five games, with George out, and Leonard missing most of the first round series against the Suns.
And James Harden, a scoring machine, often lights up the 76ers.
Title Contenders?
So, what’s in store for the Clippers this season? It’s a mix of promise and practicality. The team’s depth and talent are undeniable. With George and Leonard steering the ship, Westbrook adding energy, and Harden’s scoring touch and playmaking, the Clippers are a formidable force. But as history reminds us, talent alone doesn’t guarantee playoff success. It’s about synergy, health, and peaking at the right moment.
In the context of the 2023-24 Clippers Season Preview, I’m leaning toward cautious optimism. The Clippers have the pieces to make a deep run. If they can mesh well, stay healthy, and leverage their star power effectively, we might just see them break past previous barriers. It’s going to be about harnessing that talent and turning potential into actual playoff victories.
Kawhi Leonard has been on a run, how the Clippers have used him has been key. Cross screens for PG who catches in the post. Real play is Zubac setting a pindown in the middle of the paint for Kawhi. Movement + getting it to him in his spots. pic.twitter.com/gGVIcevkNQ
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) December 17, 2023
As we gear up for the rest of the regular season and the NBA season could be different.
The Clippers are now a dark horse in the West. They’re not just gunning for the playoffs; they want to win the NBA Finals. The offense runs through Harden, but he’s not hogging the spotlight. It’s about finding the right mix, letting Harden set up the plays, and everyone else bringing their A-game.
when people said the James Harden trade wouldn’t work for the #Clippers pic.twitter.com/OpJ2bW7Q8B
— JOSH PRIMO (@natedawg4u) December 13, 2023
The Clippers’ journey to potential playoff glory is laden with both opportunities and pitfalls. The talent is there, the experience is there, and the desire to win is undoubtedly there. But will this be the year they put it all together and make a deep NBA playoff run? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure – it’s going to be one heck of a ride.
Author: Sin City Sniper
Author: Sin City SniperBusting bookmakers and taking their money is his greatest joy in life. He’s been around the block more than once, knows the players both on and off the field of battle, and uses his experience to serve the bookies a heaping plate of humble pie washed down by a warm glass of their salty tears. You can find him in any number of Vegas books, sniping weak lines and getting paid to do it.
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