The Clippers returned residence from their last journey of the season early Wednesday morning carrying with them each a prize and a problem.
The prize is a top-five end within the NBA’s Western Convention standings and the playoff berth that goes with it. That’s hardly a novel achievement although: The Clippers have completed within the prime 5 within the convention 10 instances within the final 13 years.
Which brings us to the problem. As a result of for all that regular-season success, the Clippers have made it so far as the convention finals simply as soon as in franchise historical past. Now, nevertheless, there’s a sense within the locker room that this may very well be the yr when that historical past turns into … effectively, historical past.
“We discovered a method to win within the common season. However, you recognize, we simply didn’t have any luck within the playoffs,” stated heart Ivica Zubac, who has gone to the playoffs 4 instances with the Clippers, shedding within the first spherical twice. “However we’re ok. We obtained what we want.
“I believe this yr is the yr.”
Zubac stated that after Tuesday’s 105-92 win over the Phoenix Suns, a recreation that was a 48-minute microcosm of the Clippers’ complete season.
Harm riddled all yr, the group performed once more Tuesday with out its main scorer in Kawhi Leonard and its prime playmaker in James Harden. A group that has stubbornly refused to tug collectively a full recreation all yr additionally did that once more, enjoying brilliantly within the first half, holding the Suns to 10 factors within the first interval — the primary time it has achieved that in practically 20 years — and taking a season-high 37-point lead within the second quarter. Then it was dreadful within the second half, committing 12 turnovers and giving up 35 third-period factors, permitting the Suns to attract inside seven.
Nevertheless it additionally confirmed grit, one other group trademark, with Russell Westbrook, beginning for the primary time since November due to the accidents to Leonard and Harden, ending with 16 factors and season highs in each assists (15) and rebounds (15). That made him the primary Clipper to complete with not less than 15 factors, rebounds and assists in a single recreation whereas extending his NBA file for profession triple-doubles to 199.
5 different gamers additionally scored in double figures together with Paul George, whose game-high 23 factors gave him greater than 18,000 for his profession, changing into one among simply seven energetic gamers with not less than 18,000 factors, 5,000 rebounds and three,000 assists.
“This locker room is extraordinarily gifted. So we don’t depend on one individual, we type of decide one another up,” George stated. “So who’s in, who’s out, we nonetheless have a job to do. And that’s simply how we go about it.”
After all they’re even higher with Leonard, who has missed 5 video games due to irritation in his proper knee, and Harden, who’s coping with irritation in his proper foot. And people are the sorts of accidents Zubac stated has stored the Clippers from making lengthy playoff runs prior to now.
“We might have made that run if we had been wholesome the previous couple of years,” he stated. “We had good groups.”
So now, with the benefit of clinching a playoff berth with practically per week left within the schedule, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue has the luxurious of resting gamers within the group’s last three video games.
“We’ve obtained to be sensible going into the playoffs,” he stated. “So we’re simply taking it day-to-day.”
Possibly. However Westbrook stated it’s additionally time to change focus as a result of, he must remind nobody, what the Clippers have achieved within the common season means nothing within the postseason.
“The time is now,” he stated. “Clearly now we have to do a greater job of simply persistently enjoying the way in which we have to play, discovering methods to higher win basketball video games. As a result of that’s what the playoffs are about. Groups will make runs.
“It’s our job as a group to remain collectively, follow our rules.”
The Clippers did that Tuesday, defending so effectively within the first quarter the Suns missed 9 their first 10 photographs and shot simply 10.5% from the ground, lacking all 4 three-point ties. Then after letting Phoenix again into the sport halfway by means of the fourth interval, the Clippers went again on the gasoline once more, with George scoring six straight factors to assist push the lead again to 13.
The win was the group’s twenty sixth on the street this season, matching the franchise file.
“Our guys discovered a method to do it, discovered a method to win,” Lue stated. “I’m happy with our guys and what we had been in a position to accomplish.”
The group’s largest accomplishments, nevertheless, could also be but to come back.