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Clippers Curse: Ranking the five straight blown playoff series leads

By Keith Rivas

Mar 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) defends Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) as he drives to the basket in the first half of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) defends Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) as he drives to the basket in the first half of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 27, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. The Kings defeated the Grizzlies 91-90. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. The Kings defeated the Grizzlies 91-90. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports /

First round vs Memphis (2013)

After winning a blowout in Game 1 and a much closer contest in Game 2, the Clippers fell apart to the Grizzlies back in 2013. This could be credited as the beginning of the snowball effect for Los Angeles.

In games 3-6, the Clippers didn’t come closer than ten points at the final horn. The Grizzlies had total control and didn’t let an 0-2 hole stop them.

Los Angeles had home court advantage in this series, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise for them to win the first two games. Since it was expected, and they were the higher seed, they don’t get as much of a break here.

In the 2016 series against the Trail Blazers, the loss can be pinpointed on injuries and what-if scenarios. Here, it was just bad basketball.

Chris Paul had one interesting statistic, going 6-19 from deep in the series. If he and the Clippers offense hadn’t missed as many three-pointers as they did, or were at least more efficient with the basketball, they might’ve saved themselves the trouble.

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