The Los Angeles Clippers haven’t any scarcity of star energy on their roster, however their age and damage issues don’t encourage probably the most confidence of their possibilities of going the gap.
The Los Angeles Clippers took the Denver Nuggets to seven video games within the first spherical of the playoffs, and promptly acquired busy this offseason, including win-now expertise round James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac.
Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, Brook Lopez, and John Collins all joined the roster, bolstering their title odds, though there is only one downside: it’s not 2018, and most of these gamers are long gone their primes, drawing concern about their sturdiness by an 82-game season.
Final summer season, the Philadelphia 76ers went all-in on the ageing Paul George, often injured Joel Embiid, and the already injury-prone Tyrese Maxey. On paper, that staff ought to have competed for a title, however their well being slowed them down, ending 24-58.
With a mean age of 34.8 years, the Clippers is likely to be in the identical boat as final yr’s Sixers.
“I imagine that this staff might go like Philly final yr, or this staff might go and win a championship,” mentioned Richard Jefferson. “That’s their spectrum, the place they may have accidents, they may, proper, simply primarily based off of what we all know, and we additionally might see this staff go and win a championship.”
Just like the 76ers, it’s unimaginable to disclaim that the Clippers have unimaginable expertise, however their reliability and sturdiness stay a significant concern.
“Traditionally, when the typical age of your staff is nearer to receiving their pension than they’re being drafted, it’s not an excellent signal,” Jefferson added.
If their stars can all play 60 or extra video games and be wholesome heading into the playoffs, LA might be title favorites, however issues might go south quick.
Not like the 76ers, the Clippers didn’t spend the overwhelming majority of their wage cap on three gamers. Sure, Harden and Leonard will each make effectively over $35 million subsequent season, however Zubac, Beal, Paul, Lopez, Bogdan Bogdanović, Derrick Jones Jr., and Kris Dunn are all on inexpensive, team-friendly offers.
The Clippers have one of many prime medical staffs within the league, so managing accidents, whereas a relentless battle, received’t be unimaginable.
On prime of that, with dependable gamers like Bogdanovic, Jones Jr., Dunn, Paul, and Nicolas Batum coming off the bench, if any of the starters go down with damage, the Clippers have the depth to make up for his or her loss.
Now, if Harden and Leonard each miss over 30 video games, the Clippers is likely to be in bother, however after managing Leonard’s well being final season efficiently, there may be cause to place confidence in Los Angeles.
