We’ve seen a few surprises so far during the 2015 NBA playoffs. The defending champion Spurs getting ousted in round one is one of them. The league’s two top-seeded teams could see the same fate in round two. With all of the craziness that’s already gone down, it’s fair to wonder what other unlikely happenings are on the horizon.
The Los Angeles Clippers advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the first time ever could be one of them. With a massive win in game four, the Clips took a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Houston Rockets. With three chances to take the series and move on, an even crazier notion is organically proposed: can this Clippers squad make a run at the title?
It does sound crazy, but perhaps it’s not quite as ridiculous as it may have sounded last year or the year before. L.A. certainly hasn’t had a rich history in the league – specifically in the playoffs. But there is something different about this year’s team. Let’s break down the key reasons why we just can’t write the Clippers off going forward:
Paging Doctor Rivers
Of all the coaches remaining in this year’s playoffs, only one has an NBA title. That’s Doc Rivers, and he coaches the Clippers. Naturally, Rivers has the experience to guide L.A. through the murky waters of the playoffs and he also has excellent in-game management. On the off chance things aren’t going the Clips’ way, Rivers can adapt on the fly.
Shake and Blake
Blake Griffin has been everything for the Clippers, as he’s been scoring, rebounding and dishing dimes at an alarming rate. Griffin was huge versus the Spurs, even bigger with Chris Paul out against the Rockets in the first two games and he’s only blown up more at home in games three and four. If he can keep this up, it’s hard not to favor L.A. to reach the Finals. And even if his numbers die down a bit, he still is part of an extremely potent offense.
Fading Field
The rest of the field just isn’t imposing. Out east you have the Cavs without Kevin Love, the Wizards without John Wall, a suddenly banged up (again) Bulls squad and a seemingly weak #1 seeded Hawks team. In the West, the top-seeded Warriors remain but have come out flat, the Grizzlies lack a consistent offensive punch and the Rockets haven’t proven to be worthy competition just yet.
Inside/Outside Attack
The best thing about the Clippers is that they have the goods from top to bottom to play anyone’s game. They had the balance to upset the Spurs, the scoring to take down the Rockets and they have the point guard play and interior man-eaters to take down just about anyone else, as well. That doesn’t make the Clips a total lock to beat the Warriors or Grizzlies in round three, but it gives them a fantastic chance.
Depth, Rising
The funny thing about L.A. is their horrid depth has somehow come alive at exactly the right time. There is surely concern about wearing down Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan too much, but Glen Davis can be useful in about 12 minutes per game and the Clips look for the rest of their spark via the bench out of Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers. That wasn’t necessarily working during the regular season, but it surely has been lately. If that can keep up, the Clippers would have the bench help they’d been looking for.
Eye Test
If nothing else convinces you that the Clippers could finally be turning the corner, take a look at what they’ve already done in these playoffs. Not only did they take down the defending champion Spurs in seven games in round one, but they’ve also made it through a Chris Paul injury and have largely destroyed what figured to be a good Rockets team. If the Clippers can edge out the Spurs and blast the Rockets, it’s reasonable to think they can beat just about anyone.
Ultimately, L.A. isn’t guaranteed anything. Title contenders don’t usually come out of nowhere within a year in the NBA. It’s happened before, but it’s come with bigger names on bigger teams. However, L.A. grouped together to take down the Spurs in a grueling first round series and it looks like that made them believers in themselves. Now that they’re one win away from the Western Conference Finals, they just might be adding more believers behind them.
Disagree that the Clippers could be title contenders and think someone else is a lock to win the 2015 NBA Finals? Let us hear it in the comments below!
