5 Things We Learned About the Los Angeles Clippers in Round 1
Zack Cook
Host · Writer
Changes are Needed
This is where things get difficult for the Los Angeles Clippers. With a move to a new arena coming, the Clippers must decide how they want to structure this organization moving forward. There were times during the regular season when it looked as though Leonard, Harden, and George could lead this team. At the end of the day, the best ability is availability, and the Clippers couldn't maintain that. Whether LA decides to move off one of their stars or fix the roster around the edges, changes are needed in Tinsel Town, knowing very well this core is aging.
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Can't Rely on Kawhi
After playing 68 games during the regular season, it finally appeared that we were set to get a real playoff run from Kawhi Leonard. Wrong. Leonard entered the series against Dallas with an injury designation and never looked himself when he did suit up in two games. Leonard has earned the status of being a closer in the NBA after winning a pair of titles, but it's impossible to rely on him being the guy for an entire playoff run at this stage in his career. The talent is still there, but when he suits up, is completely unpredictable.
Paul George Still Struggles to be the Guy
There were flashes during the series against Dallas where it looked like Paul George could carry the load. The issue is that those flashes were few and far between. There's little doubt George is still a premier talent in the NBA, but he's definitely not a top option on a contending team, and there's a real case to be made that he's not a two, either. There's already some chatter about the Clippers playing hardball with George regarding his potential upcoming extension. Will this be the end of this veteran core?
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Tyronn Lue Can't Fix This Roster
There are a lot of people who have time for Tyronn Lue as a basketball coach. In our eyes, he did as much as he could with the limitations of this roster. The Clippers reportedly have their sights set on retaining him as their head coach, but will the two sides be able to come to an agreement that makes sense for both parties? It's a real question at this time. The last thing the Clippers would want is for Lue to test the waters and ultimately land with the Lakers.
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James Harden Can Still Play
It certainly wasn't a perfect series for James Harden by any stretch of the imagination. Harden proved that he still has a lot left in the tank, which is valuable to this Clippers team. Harden had explosive moments in this series against Dallas, but many wonder if he can put together those moments consistently at this point in his career. There's a definite narrative around Harden that will continue until he finds a way to win, but he wasn't the scapegoat in this series vs. Dallas.
Changes are Needed
This is where things get difficult for the Los Angeles Clippers. With a move to a new arena coming, the Clippers must decide how they want to structure this organization moving forward. There were times during the regular season when it looked as though Leonard, Harden, and George could lead this team. At the end of the day, the best ability is availability, and the Clippers couldn't maintain that. Whether LA decides to move off one of their stars or fix the roster around the edges, changes are needed in Tinsel Town, knowing very well this core is aging.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Can't Rely on Kawhi
After playing 68 games during the regular season, it finally appeared that we were set to get a real playoff run from Kawhi Leonard. Wrong. Leonard entered the series against Dallas with an injury designation and never looked himself when he did suit up in two games. Leonard has earned the status of being a closer in the NBA after winning a pair of titles, but it's impossible to rely on him being the guy for an entire playoff run at this stage in his career. The talent is still there, but when he suits up, is completely unpredictable.
