CLIPS "TRIP AND DIP" AGAIN!

The L.A. Clippers are better than they used to be, 

but not as good as they

1. think they are

2. expect to be

3. should be

They no longer celebrate just getting to the playoffs. Anything short of the conference finals or the NBA Finals is unacceptable, but they are still the Clippers. Haunted by their past and humbled by their present.

The team's core players are solid.

Blake Griffin has turned into one of the best all-around players in the NBA

Chris Paul led the league in assists. He is extremely talented, but he is not a "take charge" point guard, especially in the clutch.

DeAndre Jordan is a monster on defense, but equally scary at the free throw line.

J.J. Redick has become much more than a shooter, but he was non-existent in game 7 v Houston

Matt Barnes give the Clippers attitude and physicality during the season, but gave them zero points against the Rockets

The bench is short and filled with question marks.

What happened to Jamal Crawford in the playoffs?

Does the coach's kid have a future in L.A.? Austin Rivers was a force in the playoffs, but a farce during most of the season.

Big Baby?
Spencer Ha-Hawes?
Hedo?

The teams that are still alive in the NBA Playoffs are excelling through defense and depth. The Clippers have little of one and less of the other.

Then there is the head coach/ 

president of basketball operations. 

Doc is a better head coach than a personnel man. His moves have been questionable and the team has very little cap space, right now. Signing Jordan is a "must" and it will probably take a max contract to do it.

Keep this in mind too. There have only been 9 NBA teams that have been eliminated after leading a best of seven series (3-1). Doc Rivers was the head coach for #7 and #9. His Orlando Magic flopped against Detroit back in 2003 and his Clippers collapsed this year against the Rockets.

It is "wait until next year", Clipper fans.  

You had a chance to chip into the Lakers' lock on Los Angeles, but there is still hope and things are changing in the city. This year, it is the Lakers keeping their fingers crossed at the NBA Draft Lottery, but you still
 cannot spell "COLLAPSE " without "C-L-P-S". 

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