Clippers Slipping As Race For West Heats Up
- Updated: February 9, 2015
It was about this time last year that Blake Griffin carried the Clippers during Chris Paul’s absence to announce himself as an elite player in the NBA.
Now, with the big power forward, Blake Griffin, out of Oklahoma to undergo surgery on a staph infection in his elbow that will keep him out indefinitely (at least a month according to some reports), he will need his teammates to step up to preserve their spot in the tight Western Conference playoff race.
Last week, I discussed where the Clippers could improve to secure their spot among the top four seeds, now they’re in a battle to stay in the eight.
To make matters worse for the Clippers, back up PF Glen Davis exited Sunday’s game against OKC with back spasms, the same injury that has sidelined J.J Redick during the teams’ current road trip.
The team is in their toughest part of the schedule this season, with 16 of 21 games (dating back from Jan. 30) against teams in the top nine in their conference, with another two against a spirited OKC team desperate to get back amongst the seeds.
Despite averaging 18 points and 10 assists in the year, Paul will have to become more aggressive in Griffin’s absence if the Clippers are to maintain their high level of offense while Redick’s return also cannot come quick enough.
Doc Rivers will have to find something to get his players out of this rut because if they’re not careful, they could soon find themselves watching their rivals go at it from their couches at home in late April and May.
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