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The Clippers are going to have to win out to reach playoffs

By Jason Reed

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 23: Doc Rivers the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers gives instructions to his team against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 23, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 23: Doc Rivers the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers gives instructions to his team against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 23, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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The tenth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers are two games away from the eighth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans. To reach the NBA playoffs, the Clippers are going to need to win out.

Well, the Clippers do not have to win out to make the NBA Playoffs. It is just going to be very hard to make it any other way.

The Los Angeles Clippers, despite multiple injuries and the disbandment of Lob City, are still in playoff contention. Although the team is not the same title contender as before, being in playoff contention is an accomplishment in its own right. If the team does make the playoffs, they would have far exceeded many expectations after trading Blake Griffin.

Including mine.

The Clippers trail the eighth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans by two games. Sandwiched between the two teams is the Denver Nuggets, who is one game separated from both sides. The seventh-seeded Timberwolves are in striking range 2.5 games ahead of the Clippers and the sixth-seeded Utah Jazz is just three games ahead of LA.

Heck, the fourth-seeded San Antonio Spurs are just four games ahead of LA. Four games separate the fourth and tenth seed. It is unlikely that the Clippers catch the Spurs, though, as there are just five games remaining for both teams.

However, five games give the Clippers plenty of time to make ground towards the NBA playoffs. To do so, winning out may be the only route.

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The Clippers face the Spurs, Jazz, Nuggets, Pelicans and Lakers to finish off the season. Winning out is a daunting task, as four of the five teams are in playoff contention and the Lakers always get up for the LA rivalry.

With the team’s recent results, I would give the team a very small chance of completing the task. However, if they do, it is hard to see them not making the playoff picture.

Beating the Denver Nuggets makes up for the one game between the two sides, putting them on equal grounds. Beating the New Orleans Pelicans does the same for those two sides.

The Nuggets face the Timberwolves twice, the Trail Blazers and the Indiana Pacers. That is arguably a tougher set than LA, with the Nuggets likely to lose one of those contest. Now the Clippers have the advantage.

The Pelicans have a simpler overall finish but have two big matchups that could sneak the Clippers into the playoffs. New Orleans faces the Grizzlies, Suns, Warriors and the Spurs to finish the season. A loss to the Warriors and Clippers could put LA up one game. Just like that, the eighth-seed is theirs for the taking.

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Of course, this is being optimistic, assuming that the Pelicans will lose to the Warriors. But quite frankly, the Clippers only have one realistic game of wiggle room. Barring some late-season meltdown from the Pelicans and Nuggets, LA must go on a five-game run to earn a playoff spot.

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