Clippers: Injuries and talent-level are finally catching up

The Los Angeles Clippers have done an excellent job with the cards they have been dealt this season. However, the feel-good story may be coming to a close.

The 2010s have been the best decade in Los Angeles Clippers history. Lob City took over the Clippers and gave the fans the first respectable, legitimate title-contending team. Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan brought life to a franchise that lacked a detailed history.

Now, in March 2018, the Los Angeles Clippers are a much different team. Chris Paul is now a Houston Rocket. Blake Griffin is now a Detroit Piston. All that is left standing is DeAndre Jordan, who, ironically, was almost the first to leave to the Dallas Mavericks in 2015.

Regardless of lacking a true superstar, the Clippers have been pretty good this season. Numerous depth pieces give the Clippers one of the best benches in basketball. Jordan has done his part, newcomer Lou Williams has exceeded expectations.

Tobias Harris has been a solid pickup, arguably out playing Blake Griffin since the trade. Austin Rivers has stepped up as a good asset and Milos Teodosic has proven to be a worthwhile investment for the Clippers.

That is what has put the Clippers in the heart of a postseason run. One week ago, the Clippers were among the Western Conference’s top eight teams. Now, they are tenth, two games behind the eighth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.

And although the Clippers are still in striking distance, their shortcomings are starting to catch up to them. The team is riding a three-game losing streak, which is not the end of the world. However, the team is set to play the Timberwolves, Bucks, Pacers, Raptors and Bucks again, in that order.

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That three-game losing streak could easily turn into an eight-game losing streak. That two-game gap could turn into a five-game gap. There is no reason to get too excited about these games; the Clippers are 3-7 in their last ten against fellow playoff teams.

With a complete squad, I like the Clippers’ chances. However, this is far from a complete squad. Elite defending point guard Patrick Beverley has been out for months. His replacement, Avery Bradley, will miss the remainder of the regular season. Danilo Gallinari has not played in nearly a month.

I like what the Clippers have done, I really do. They have far exceeded their expectations thus far. With that being said, though, this next tough stretch of games will only expose the injuries; it will only expose the talent-gap between the Clippers and other playoff teams.

Los Angeles does not have an Anthony Davis, a Karl-Anthony Towns, a LaMarcus Aldridge, a Nikola Jokic. The four teams they are competing with at the bottom of the Western Conference playoff picture do. Say what you will about what LA has done, it does take a superstar to win in this league. The Clippers do not have that.

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This does not make the 2017-2018 season a failure. If anything, this proves the resilience of this group and the genius of the often-criticized Doc Rivers. With those foundations in place, the future could be bright for LA. However, it is time to fold on 2018.

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