For a long time, the Los Angeles Clippers were the laughing stock of the NBA. Around 1999, they set the league record for fewest scored points in a half, nineteen. No matter how hard the franchise tried or how many high lottery draft picks, the team seemed to linger among the worst. That was, until Chris Paul showed up.
With his feeding the ball to high-flying teammates, the Clippers were "Lob City." They were making the playoffs and even winning a few series. This included the epic game seven in 2015 against the defending champions San Antonio Spurs, where Paul's corner, high off glass shot gave his team the series win. The Clippers have even weathered some dark storm clouds, like when the owner was in the middle of a racial controversy.
Even last season, though they lost in the first round and were the eighth seed in the Western Conference, they still won two games against the champion-filled team of the Golden State Warriors. The tough, aggressive defense of Patrick Beverly made it a fun series to watch. They have gone from a worst to pretty good and a good show to watch, but who could bring them into first? In comes last year's Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Coming in from free agency, he agreed the come to the Clippers as long as he had another top-tier player. In comes on of last year's MVP candidates--Paul George. Both of them can play both offense and defense very effectively. Together, they should go far in the playoffs.
Speaking of playoffs, last year was the first year in about a dozen that three-time Finals MVP LeBron James failed to make the playoffs. This was due to most of the starters of his new team, the Los Angeles Lakers, being injured, including himself. James was also probably convinced that another superstar was needed to defeat highly competitive teams in the Western Conference. The Laker fans have been used to winning when they have good teams, and they will have to expect nothing less from James and company.
With his feeding the ball to high-flying teammates, the Clippers were "Lob City." They were making the playoffs and even winning a few series. This included the epic game seven in 2015 against the defending champions San Antonio Spurs, where Paul's corner, high off glass shot gave his team the series win. The Clippers have even weathered some dark storm clouds, like when the owner was in the middle of a racial controversy.
Even last season, though they lost in the first round and were the eighth seed in the Western Conference, they still won two games against the champion-filled team of the Golden State Warriors. The tough, aggressive defense of Patrick Beverly made it a fun series to watch. They have gone from a worst to pretty good and a good show to watch, but who could bring them into first? In comes last year's Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Coming in from free agency, he agreed the come to the Clippers as long as he had another top-tier player. In comes on of last year's MVP candidates--Paul George. Both of them can play both offense and defense very effectively. Together, they should go far in the playoffs.
Speaking of playoffs, last year was the first year in about a dozen that three-time Finals MVP LeBron James failed to make the playoffs. This was due to most of the starters of his new team, the Los Angeles Lakers, being injured, including himself. James was also probably convinced that another superstar was needed to defeat highly competitive teams in the Western Conference. The Laker fans have been used to winning when they have good teams, and they will have to expect nothing less from James and company.
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