The disappointing Clippers are 23-23 with 36 video games remaining this season. The workforce is working as if it is comfy competing within the play-in match, which eradicated the 2021-2022 workforce dwelling sooner than anticipated.
Earlier than the season, many believed the Clippers would lastly attain the NBA Finals. The workforce’s third-year head coach felt the workforce was succesful, thus welcoming the excessive expectations again in October.
Title hopes are falling out of attain for Los Angeles. Equally to final season, the Clippers cannot keep wholesome and infrequently have star forwards Kawhi Leonard and George within the lineup, not to mention collectively. Amid rehabs, minor accidents, and cargo administration, Leonard has missed 24 video games on the yr, and George has missed 15.
Los Angeles’ teaching and up to date roster additions have additionally been underwhelming. Lue has persistently given minutes to the unsuitable gamers, leaving competent function gamers like wings Terance Mann and Robert Covington typically out of the rotation. In flip, guards like John Wall have struggled to carry out, incomes commerce buzz forward of the Feb. 9 deadline.
The Clippers should attempt to be like final yr’s Celtics, who made the NBA Finals after a 23-24 starting. Nonetheless, the workforce should push by means of a tough a part of its schedule — making the squandered, “simple” begin extra irritating.