The Clippers next four games will make or break a playoff spot

The Los Angeles Clippers continue to cling onto a playoff spot with only 16 games left to play in the season.

The Los Angeles Clippers are surprising a lot of people with their current, potential, playoff push. This is Lob City without the two founders, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, winning games. DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams have taken charge of a new-look Clippers team that — if the league ended today — would be facing the Golden State Warriors in the first-round of the playoffs.

As it stands, the Clippers are the seventh seed in the Western Conference with a 37-29 record. What makes the Western Conference so interesting this season is that the third-seed and the eighth-seed are separated by just 3.5 games. Realistically, the Clippers could shoot up to the third-seed with one last great run.

While the team ultimately will not be able to trump the juggernauts of the West, this is a huge accomplishment for a team that was seemingly set up for failure. The Clippers just keep winning; winners of three straight and seven of the last ten.

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They have not let multiple trades hurt them. Neither has the injury bug, which most recently struck Avery Bradley (who will likely miss the rest of the season). Even without their two elite backcourt defenders, Bradley and Patrick Beverley, the Clippers are in line for a playoff spot.

But still, the beautiful part of the Western Conference is also the scariest. The Clippers have the same record as the ninth-seeded San Antonio Spurs and are only one game ahead of the tenth-seeded Denver Nuggets. Anything can change on any given night, it may be an instance of “last shot wins a playoff spot!”

The next five games will be a huge test for the Los Angeles Clippers. With a stretch of huge games to close the year, the next four games are even more pivotal. Take three or four and LA will put themselves in a great spot to get a playoff spot. Win just one or two and this season becomes an uphill battle.

The games:

Thursday, March 15 @ Houston Rockets

I mean, we all know what happened last time the Rockets played the Clippers. This is the one game I would completely write the Clippers off of winning. Chris Paul plays with a different kind of intensity against the Clippers and the game is taking place in the red-hot Rockets’ building. If they win this one, I like their chances in the next three.

Friday, March 16 @ Oklahoma City Thunder

On paper, the Thunder should have no problem defeating the Clippers. However, as we have seen from both sides, the paper cannot tell the story. The fourth-seeded Thunder are underperforming and the seventh-seeded Clippers are overperforming. Los Angeles can win this game, although they have lost all three to the Thunder this season.

Sunday, March 18 vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Man, the Clippers have a tough slate of games. Los Angeles returns home to host the third-seeded Portland Trail Blazers. However, at this point, who knows what seed they will be. If Bradley and Beverley were playing to lock down Portland’s backcourt I really like LA’s chances. However, without that, this is going to need another Lou Williams and DeAndre Jordan showcase. To beat Portland, you have to beat Damian Lillard.

Tuesday, March 20 @ Minnesota Timberwolves

This game is a lot tougher with Jimmy Butler. However, with Butler sidelined, the Timberwolves-Clippers match-up is much more even than you may think. Jordan can contain Karl-Anthony Towns. Keep Andrew Wiggins from having a big night and get a big night from Tobias Harris or Williams and this game is easily winnable.

Oh, and the fun does not stop there for the Clippers. After four very tough Western Conference opponents, the Clippers change it up and face the East. Los Angeles will face the Bucks, Pacers, Raptors and Bucks again, in that order. That is eight straight playoff teams. Knowing the Clippers, they could easily win eight in a row or lose eight in a row. Who knows?

Next: Julius Randle is the x-factor for LeBron

At the end of the day, though, the four Western Conference games are the most important towards the team’s playoff picture. Strap up, Clipper fans, the next eight games are going to be challenging.