Clippers Polish Off Model Season With Third Seed In The Western Conference
By Keith Rivas
Now that they can put the 82-game regular season behind them, the Los Angeles Clippers are preparing for the hardest match up in the Western Conference side of this year’s playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs.
The defending champions have stepped up to the plate at just the right time and had their own fair chance at getting as high as the second seed but the final day of the regular season did not fare in their favor.
Or did it?
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If the Spurs had gotten the second seed they would have been paired with the Dallas Mavericks — the only team that gave them a remote scare last year. The Spurs were the West’s top seed while the Mavs were the underdog eight seed but the series went all seven games.
The momentum seemed to be all in Dallas’ favor until a Game 7 collapse in which the Spurs showed they would leave no prisoners and have no mercy.
The Clippers hope that history doesn’t repeat itself this time around.
Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have provided an offensive blueprint and body of work that should really excite the Clipper faithful for the near future. DeAndre Jordan has also stepped up his game to the point of reasonable mention and it is a huge reason why the offensive trash talk has been backed up.
They leave it all on the court.
One other important thing to notice about this year’s Clippers team is that going into the playoffs they are embarking on their first post-Sterling title run. Last season, as you may know, former team owner Donald Sterling had disturbing personal comments reach the eyes and ears of the American public and the backlash and aftermath proved too distracting for the Clippers to focus.
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But that was then, this is now.
The team, in fact, has never been more motivated to win big now than ever before. The rival Los Angeles Lakers are officially finished with their season and are out of the picture and the Los Angeles Kings aren’t around in their respective playoffs — so what does that mean?
This leaves the city open for renewal.
Apr 14, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers reacts in the first quarter against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
There has always been a championship mindset surrounding Staples Center, but the focus of that mindset has rarely been on the red, white, and blue. Seeing things in a different perspective now, head coach Doc Rivers also has a chance to change things around in another important and historical sports city.
And yes, that means leaving Boston behind.
Bottom Line: Los Angeles is more than ready for the challenge
But no disrespect to the Celtics. They’ve earned their own right to league recognition and Doc Rivers was no question a big part of that. Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen were all major players in the latter Celtics title runs — but those days are no more.
Regardless of how they do in the playoffs, this season was far from a disappointment for the Clippers. Time and time again they’ve had doubters, haters, and oblivious folk that simply fail to see true talent for what it is — more than just a win/loss statistic.
Game 1 in their first-round series begins Sunday night with tip-off at 7:30 pm PT.
This should be fun.