Are the Clippers Done For?
Are the Clippers Done For?
Can the Clippers make it into the post-season without PG-13?
The Los Angeles Clippers have been looking like one of the top contenders ever since they unleashed Kawhi Leonard earlier this year.
Though their season since has been a roller coaster with their wins and losses, they have gone on more winning streaks than losing streaks.
They won enough games to pull themselves into the top 5 and looked like a team that can go all the way to the NBA Finals.
But that prospect is a slim one now because…
On Tuesday, Paul George suffered a leg injury and is expected to be out for at least two-to-three weeks.
The injury came after a rebound late in the fourth quarter, when George landed on Lu Dort and hyperextended his knee.
(P.S. If you’re squeamish, don’t watch the injury unfold.)
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, he will miss the remainder of the regular season, but has a chance to return for the first round of the playoffs.
However, without George, can the Clippers make it to the postseason?
They are currently 39-35 (fifth seed) and 2.5 games above the 8th-to-11th-seed teams (Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Oklahoma Thunder).
The Western Conference is tight this season and there are many talented teams vying for a spot in the playoffs.
But I personally think they can. However, they will have to compete in the play-in tournament.
Even with George’s injury and Norman Powell’s absence, the Clippers are still deep enough to prevent falling out of the top 10.
But they will lose their fifth spot and fall down to seventh or eighth because they’re not that deep. They don’t have enough star power to win the majority of the remaining games.
Also, Leonard will most likely sit out at least one of the remaining games for load management. Throughout this season, he’s been resting after every fifth or sixth game.
Another also: since the playoffs are around the corner, he may sit out more, which will decrease their chances of winning games.
So, these are my predictions for the Clippers’ season. What do you think will be their fate?
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