Los Angeles Clippers Disappointed with Falling Short of Season Goals: "I'm Livid"
Loosening the Lid on the Clippers:
Skip the overachievement chatter when discussing the Clippers' impressive season. Despite preseason predictions that suggested a play-in race in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, thanks to Kawhi Leonard's right knee injury concerns and Paul George's departure to the 76ers, the Clippers silenced the doubters with a 50-32 record and a fifth seed.
Even when confronted with this remarkable performance, the Clippers remained steadfast in their self-perception, disregarding the external noise that pointed to a lesser standing in the conference. Unfortunately for them, their ousting by the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs dampened their season's high.
Game Over for the Clippers:
Denver's victory in Game 7 was a tough pill to swallow for the Clippers, as they were outclassed, with the Nuggets building a 35-point lead at their peak. "Whether you overachieve or not, when you lose in the playoffs, it's tough," admitted coach Tyronn Lue after their 120-101 loss in Game 7.
Defensive Giants:
The Clippers proved to be one of the best defensive teams in the league, holding opponents to an average of 108.2 points per game (fifth-best in the league) and boasting a defensive rating of 109.4 (the third-best). But did they outperform expectations considering George's departure and Leonard's injury-hit start to the season?
"Hell naw. Hell naw. We didn't overachieve nothing," declared Derrick Jones Jr., a top defender for the team. "We believed from Day 1. The outside noise is the outside noise. We don't care for it. We believe who we believe in and we knew that we could make it to where we made it to and go further. ... We fell short."
The Long Game:
The Clippers currently have 12 players under contract and two players on two-way deals. As Leonard, 33, has two years left on his contact at about $50 million per season, the team likely has plans to restructure and build around their star forward. Leonard played in 37 regular season games and all seven playoff games, ending the season healthy.
Harden's Headaches:
James Harden, a regular-season MVP candidate with averages of 22.8 points and 8.7 assists, had a disastrous Game 7, scoring just seven points. This underwhelming performance added to his history of playoff disappointments. With a player option for $36 million, Harden holds the keys to the Clippers' future, and he has until June 29 to make his decision.
Strong Performances:
Norman Powell turned in a career-best season, averaging 21.8 points per game, while Ivica Zubac became one of the league's best centers, posting career-high averages in points (16.8), rebounds (12.6), assists (2.7), and games played (80). Both players are expected to seek contract extensions.
Next Steps:
The Clippers have a first-round pick (29), a second-round pick, and can use their non-tax mid-level exception to strengthen their roster this offseason. Leonard, however, has a different perspective: "I guess we did a good job during the season. I guess you said a lot of people counted us out, but we were able to get here. But that's never the goal, to just get here."
- The Clippers, despite their impressive season ending in the playoffs, maintain that they didn't overachieve, with Derrick Jones Jr. asserting, "Hell naw. Hell naw. We didn't overachieve nothing."
- With Kawhi Leonard under contract for two more years and a healthy finish to the season, the Clippers are likely planning to restructure and build their team around their star forward.
- Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac, who both turned in strong performances during the season, are expected to seek contract extensions after career-best seasons.
- As they look towards the future, the Clippers hold the potential to strengthen their roster through the draft and using their non-tax mid-level exception, while Leonard aims for a goal beyond just making the playoffs.
