The Los Angeles Clippers: Pretenders or Contenders?

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers argues a call during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Nov. 24, 2014. The Clippers won 113-92. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

The Pretenders

First thing’s first…being in the Western Conference sucks. Plain and simple. So we cannot hold that against the Clippers.

The 8th seeded Dallas Mavericks, with a record of 48-34, could have been the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

However, adjusting to the exhausting route to the NBA Finals is one thing the Los Angeles Clippers can do.

I understand throwing alley-oops and highlight plays are cool, but that does not seem to be the correct formula for them. Sure it works in the regular season, but the playoffs become less of a fast break oriented game and more about half court execution.

The Clippers have no problem getting to the playoffs. They have been in the top 8 three straight years and each time they have proved their style of play does not work.

• 2012 Playoffs: Won against the Memphis Grizzlies (4-3)
• Then lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the second round (0-4)
• 2013 Playoffs: Lost to the Memphis Grizzlies (2-4)
• 2014 Playoffs: Won against the Golden State Warriors (4-3)
• Then lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round (2-4)

The Los Angeles Clippers have a combined record of 12-18 in the playoffs and have never made it the Western Conference Finals in the team’s history.

That statement alone does not scream “contender” to me.

Who is to blame?

From the coaching to the performance of the players, the blame can be passed around. In those three seasons the Clippers have been top 10 in pace and haven’t tried to adjust the style of play throughout the regular season to match the playoff atmosphere. The coaching staff can account for that one. Also, the two stars have not performed to level of contention for the finals. Blake Griffin’s playoff averages are 19.8 points per game, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 turnovers, and only shooting 49%. Chris Paul, on the other hand, averages about the same numbers no matter if it is the playoffs or not. In the three playoff runs with the Clippers, Paul has averaged 19.8 points per game, 8.6 assists, and shooting 40% from the three-point line. So why is he to blame? Especially last year, Chris Paul has been known for his untimely turnovers late in games or throughout the course of playoff games. In the last three playoffs, Chris has averaged 3 turnovers per game.