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LA Clippers Finding New Ways To Survive

By Keith Rivas

Dec 31, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) reacts after a play against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) reacts after a play against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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With Blake Griffin not able to make his impact known, the LA Clippers are still standing strong in the Western Conference.

The Warriors, Spurs, and Thunder may very well be the best three teams in the Western Conference – and their current position in the standings comes deservedly so – but the LA Clippers aren’t far behind.

Riding a six-game winning streak, it’s a surge that’s brought the Clippers back from the dead and within two games of the third seed where the Oklahoma City Thunder find themselves.

Head to head, we already know that the Clippers are capable of staying afloat, changing the pace of the game if need be, or even dominating the best in the business.

The even balance of this team is another factor that makes them a threat to the Western hierarchy.

They aren’t better on the road or at home, and that’s a statistic that often gets lost with the wind because in today’s league, everyone’s focused on the flashy passes or the high scoring.

But at the end of the day, the Clippers are the team that can find a way to get things done — even if it’s ugly.

Their winning streak comes with two impressive wins other than the beat down of the Lakers on Christmas Day — first against the playoff-steady Utah Jazz and then by the buzzing Charlotte Hornets.

And both came on the road.

The loss of Blake Griffin also hasn’t been that detrimental to the team because Chris Paul continues to put in work when the rest of the team can’t do it themselves.

Paul is averaging 24 points per game and also leading the team in assists, with nine per outing.

Looking at how iffy the Warriors have been without Steph Curry tells a lot about what that team’s true colors are when injuries strike — and the Clippers will be ready to pounce if given the chance.

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They can work around their injuries, where it’s usually harder for the Warriors, Spurs, or Thunder to do.

Without Kevin Durant, the Thunder have shown us all that even epic late-game heroics by Russell Westbrook can’t make the team a championship contender.

With the Spurs, if any of their veterans go out, they’re the one team that might be okay — but the Clippers have had their number since trouncing them last year.

And if the Clippers were able to contend as well as they did earlier in the season against the Golden State Warriors when they had Steph Curry in the lineup, imagine the damage they could do if he faces an injury late in the season or come playoff time?

Next: Julius Randle Proving To Be Worth It

Their biggest enemy is themselves.

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