In the end, the ever-persevering, refusing-to-give-up, and extremely resilient Los Angeles Clippers ran out of steam.
The Clippers fought valiantly in six games before falling short against the NBA Finals-bound Phoenix Suns. The overall exhaustion and playing without key players finally set in in the series-clinching Game 6. Already playing without Kawhi Leonard, the final straw was losing center Ivica Zubac to a sprained MCL, further shortening coach Tyronn Lue’s already depleted rotation.
Nonetheless, if there was ever a team that can be perfectly described as “going down swinging,” it would be the Clippers. It wasn’t too long ago that they were down 0-2 against the Mavericks and were staring at a 30-11 deficit in Game 3.
After surviving Luka Doncic, they weathered another 0-2 hole versus the Utah Jazz who had the best record in the regular season. Down 0-2 once more against the Suns, they won two games, including a spirited effort in Game 5, but eventually got booted out.
Arguably the largest takeaway for these Clippers is their newfound identity of being a team that simply refuses to go away. They’ve been described as resilient in more ways than one this postseason, which is already a lot more than what could be said after their collapse in last year’s bubble.
Reggie Jackson, who was earlier seen as merely an added guard in the roster for some ballhandling and a guy who can shoot a couple of 3s, morphed into the team’s second go-to scorer after Leonard went down. In 19 playoff games this season, he put up 17.8 points on 48.4 percent shooting. He knocked down 3.1 triples on a blistering 40.8 clip and had a knack for those momentum-swinging shots throughout the playoffs.
Marcus Morris Sr. had his moments as well as a premier threat from beyond the arc while being a capable defender against much bigger opponents. When the Clippers went small, which they often did, Morris usually filled in the center spot and he had to bang bodies with the likes of Boban Marjanovic, Rudy Gobert, and Deandre Ayton.
A lot of the Clippers had their shine in the playoffs including Lue who cemented himself as an extremely high-level coach regardless of personnel and circumstances. He has the X’s and O’s down pat as he consistently had to adjust and readjust his game plans for various situations in the playoffs. More importantly, he’s also a proven motivator, bringing out the best in his players. He could be down 0-2 or 3-1 with eight players in the lineup and you can be sure that they still have a chance to make it a series.
Then there’s Paul George’s playoff run. For all the criticisms thrown at him throughout his career, he’s had a phenomenal postseason. Sure, there were a few bumps on the road like his two crucial free throw misses in Game 2 in Phoenix. However, he also had his signature moments, including his 41-point, 13-rebound performance in Game 5 to stave off elimination.
The Clippers didn’t buckle under pressure and were equally deserving of a Finals spot. All that being said, however, there is a fair amount of concern about the need for the Clippers to improve their roster now that their season is over. And everything hinges on whatever Kawhi Leonard chooses to do in the offseason.
The two-time Finals MVP can decide to use his player option to suddenly become an unrestricted free agent, which will not only dramatically change the Clippers organization but also the dynamic of the offseason for the rest of the league.
You're talking about a current top-five player and an all-time great who can singlehandedly tip the balance of any team. This isn't to say that Leonard won't stay with the Clippers. Given that he's already in his home state, he’s likely to continue what he has started with the franchise.
But then again, nobody knows what's going on with the ever-mysterious and elusive Leonard. Kawhi going to a new team will send shockwaves to the entire league, but it wouldn't come as a total surprise, right?
Getting Leonard on board should be the utmost priority for the Clippers, then everything else shall follow. If Leonard stays, they can move on to resolving their next issue: having limited options in terms of changing their personnel.
The Clippers went all-in in chasing the title with George and Leonard as the cornerstones, but the championship window is beginning to close. Trading for George two years ago gave away a ton of their future picks, which include unprotected first-round picks in 2022, 2024, and 2026, plus pick swap rights in 2023 and 2025.
Not to mention, all the money thrown towards George, Leonard, and the rest of the current roster, have left the Clippers with little ammunition in free agency. They are already a luxury tax-paying club and don’t have enough cap space to acquire someone that can really move the needle.
There's also the added wrinkles of how much the team is willing to pay to keep Jackson and Nicolas Batum, who will both become unrestricted free agents. As mentioned, Jackson became an integral cog in the Clippers’ playoff run, resulting in the rise of his stock.
The Clippers can still tinker around their roster to bolster their chances for next season, but even if they can’t do anything drastic, they have the option to get everyone back and simply have another go at the title. For instance, they still have Serge Ibaka who became an afterthought because of his injury. Maybe he could have had a major impact versus the Suns.
The championship window for these Clippers is no longer as wide as it once was when the duo of Leonard and George was first formed. Still, the Clippers can be proud of what they accomplished this year. Entering the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history should be applauded.
More importantly, the Clippers' recent playoff run has given them a strong identity that they are a team that’s mentally tough. They can go toe-to-toe with anybody regardless of who’s in the lineup. If they can get all the right pieces back healthy, we might even see an even more dangerous team next season.
