Just as I finished writing about the Lakers’ struggles, it seems fitting that the Los Angeles Clippers are on the rise. I went to the Clippers’ game last Sunday against the Knicks, and since that impressive performance, I have paid closer attention to them. Before their loss to the Portland Trailblazers on Tuesday, the Clippers had won five in a row, including impressive wins over the Thunder and the Celtics and are firmly entrenched in the eighth spot in the West with clear direction to the sixth seed, as they only sit half a game behind the Utah Jazz.
After losing Tobias Harris at the trade deadline, it was believed that the Clippers would fall off and concede their playoff position, but now, with their strong team victories, they are essentially a lock for the playoffs, tied for seventh with the San Antonio Spurs. A key reason for this has been the player they got in return for Harris: Landry Shamet. The package seemed to be weighed heavily based on the picks the Clippers received, but Shamet is looking more like a potential franchise building block with each passing game. In the Knicks game I went to, I jokingly asserted to my friends that he would score at least 20 points. Well, HE SCORED 18 IN THE FIRST QUARTER. I genuinely don’t think it’s possible for him to miss an open three anymore, and having that kind of JJ Redick/Kyle Korver type floor spacer (42% from three) is really opening up the court for the Clips.
With that added room in the halfcourt, the Clippers’ big men have been feasting as well. Danilo Gallinari has established himself as the focal point of the Clippers’ starting lineup, averaging 19.3 ppg, up a substantial amount from his career average of 15.8 ppg, all while being more efficient from the field. In the month of March, that average has ballooned even more to 24.2 ppg, demonstrating his comfort as a number one option. When watching his games as well, it is clear defenses prepare for him as the main priority, yet he still puts points on the board. This was seen very clearly in the first quarter against my Celtics when Boston had no answer for him whatsoever.
Joining Gallinari in the frontcourt, reserve Montrezl Harrell has been an invaluable factor of the Clippers success also. He brings unrivaled energy onto the court; every touch he gets in the paint will be a dunk, and he will undoubtedly yell or flex or shriek following that dunk. Harrell’s energy is infectious for the club, but his offense is very underrated. He is averaging a career high 16.2 ppg, and in the last ten games during this hot stretch, he is averaging 18.3 ppg. His post game has more advanced and developed enough where every time the ball is in his hands in the paint, the result is two points. Resigning him last offseason was a coup for these Clippers.
Finally, when discussing the Clippers’ success, it would be criminal to not bring up Lou Williams, who has been the “star” of this team over the last two years. His scoring average has dropped two points this year to “only” 20.3 ppg, but recently, he has proven how important he is coming off the Clippers bench. In March, he is averaging 24.7 ppg, and his performances in the recent win streak include 40 point explosion on the Thunder and a 34 point bomb on the Celtics. Against the two most talented teams of the win streak, Williams proved that the Clippers still rely on him when the competition is tough. He singlehandedly put Boston away with his masterful mid range fadeaway; his offensive repertoire and ease are absolutely unreal. Williams’s recent achievement of becoming the highest scoring bench player ever is reflective of that talent, and he is still using that today more than ever to make this Clippers team a dangerous one.
Putting all the parts together from Shamet, to Gallinari, Harrell, and of course, Williams, the Clippers have become a fun underdog to watch and root for, and they are a team that the Warriors or Nuggets will not want to face in the playoffs because of their spreaded attack. Opposing teams cannot gameplan away the Clippers’ top scorer because the top scorer can change from game to game, which is wherein the danger lies. Realistically, though, they do lack the star power to win a playoff series against Golden State or Denver, but their dogged mentality will make them a fun team to root for. And we can be sure that they will at least put a fight.
Who would have thought when this season began that the LeBron James led Lakers would miss the playoffs and a ragtag Clippers group would? Without a player the caliber of The King, the Clippers will experience an early exit, but nonetheless, this season has been an astounding success, and they deserve a ton of respect for what they have accomplished and what they will continue to accomplish.
FanTake Basketball 