Why Clippers’ road from pretender to contender hasn’t gone like it did for the Warriors
The Los Angeles Clippers have long been a team with high expectations and a talented roster. However, their road from pretender to contender has not gone like it did for the Golden State Warriors. Despite having a star-studded lineup, the Clippers have struggled to find consistency and success in the playoffs. In this blog, we will explore the reasons why the Clippers’ journey to becoming a legitimate championship contender has been much more challenging than the Warriors’.
Firstly, let's look at the Warriors' journey. The Warriors’ transformation from a mediocre team to a championship contender began in the 2009-2010 season when they drafted Stephen Curry. With the addition of Klay Thompson in 2011 and Draymond Green in 2012, the Warriors had a talented young core that would soon become the backbone of the franchise. In 2014, the Warriors hired Steve Kerr as head coach, who would help revolutionize their offensive and defensive strategies. With the combination of a talented young core and a coaching staff that had a clear vision for their future, the Warriors quickly became one of the most dominant teams in the league.
On the other hand, the Clippers’ journey to becoming a contender has been much more turbulent. Despite having stars like Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan, the Clippers were unable to advance past the second round of the playoffs for six consecutive seasons. Despite having high expectations, the Clippers were plagued by injuries, inconsistent performances, and a lack of team chemistry. In the 2017-2018 season, the Clippers missed the playoffs entirely, prompting them to rebuild their roster.
The Clippers' rebuilding process began in the 2018 offseason with the trade of Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets. This move signaled a shift in the Clippers' strategy, as they began to focus on building a team around younger players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Landry Shamet, and Montrezl Harrell. However, the Clippers’ focus on developing young talent was short-lived. In the 2019 offseason, the Clippers made a series of high-profile moves, signing Kawhi Leonard and trading for Paul George. These moves signaled the Clippers’ commitment to winning a championship in the short term.
Despite the Clippers' new additions, their road to becoming a contender has been far from smooth. In the 2019-2020 season, the Clippers had a promising start, finishing the regular season with a record of 49-23. However, their performance in the playoffs was disappointing. In the second round of the playoffs, the Clippers blew a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets, becoming the only team in NBA history to lose a playoff series after leading by three games to one in two separate series in the same postseason.
The Clippers’ struggles in the playoffs can be attributed to a variety of factors. One major issue was the lack of chemistry between the team's stars. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George both had individual success in their previous teams, but they struggled to mesh their playing styles with the Clippers. This lack of chemistry was evident in their lackluster performance in the playoffs. Additionally, the Clippers had a lack of depth and struggled to find consistent role players to support their stars. The team was also plagued by injuries, as key players like Patrick Beverley and Montrezl Harrell missed significant time during the playoffs.
In contrast, the Warriors’ success in the playoffs was due to their team chemistry and depth. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green had played together for several seasons, developing a strong bond both on and off the court. The Warriors also had a deep bench, with players like Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston providing valuable contributions. The team's success was also due to the innovative coaching of Steve Kerr,
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