Said it since the preseason thread and have consistently said it throughout the season, I was never sold on the Clippers winning the championship no matter how much these so call ‘experts’ on ESPN etc tried to convince everyone otherwise. Let’s be honest if Pozingis was fit they wouldn’t have made it this far.
People underestimate just how important chemistry is during the playoffs. People thought because the core of this Clippers team did well last year adding two stars automatically meant they’ll win it all but basketball isn’t that simple. It doesn’t account for the fact that those same core players will have to completely change their role and take a backseat. It didn’t help that the Clippers hardly played together during the regular season so they didn’t have an offensive system or go to plays to get out of tough situations other that iso Kawhi. The Mavs exposed this and the Nuggets finished it off. In the regular season you can get by on talent alone but when it’s playoff time and you face a team with star players just like yourselves (Murray & Jokic), it comes down to chemistry and trusting your offensive system.
Kawhi was trash, no excuses but when you’ve consistently had to bail out your supposed co star every single game in the playoffs the pressure can eventually get to you. Paul George played scared offensively and didn’t even make up for it defensively.
Props to Murray & especially Jokic, coming back from 3-1 twice in the same playoffs takes a lot of heart, I think the Lakers will win but they can’t take this team lightly.
I think the title window is shut for this Clippers team. Lou will is getting older, Paul George is unreliable and his stock has dropped so doubt you can trade him, plus the Warriors & Nets will be legit challengers next year. I know Kawhi left for personal rather than professional reasons but leaving the raptors is looking stupid in hindsight.
People underestimate just how important chemistry is during the playoffs. People thought because the core of this Clippers team did well last year adding two stars automatically meant they’ll win it all but basketball isn’t that simple. It doesn’t account for the fact that those same core players will have to completely change their role and take a backseat. It didn’t help that the Clippers hardly played together during the regular season so they didn’t have an offensive system or go to plays to get out of tough situations other that iso Kawhi. The Mavs exposed this and the Nuggets finished it off. In the regular season you can get by on talent alone but when it’s playoff time and you face a team with star players just like yourselves (Murray & Jokic), it comes down to chemistry and trusting your offensive system.
Kawhi was trash, no excuses but when you’ve consistently had to bail out your supposed co star every single game in the playoffs the pressure can eventually get to you. Paul George played scared offensively and didn’t even make up for it defensively.
Props to Murray & especially Jokic, coming back from 3-1 twice in the same playoffs takes a lot of heart, I think the Lakers will win but they can’t take this team lightly.
I think the title window is shut for this Clippers team. Lou will is getting older, Paul George is unreliable and his stock has dropped so doubt you can trade him, plus the Warriors & Nets will be legit challengers next year. I know Kawhi left for personal rather than professional reasons but leaving the raptors is looking stupid in hindsight.
Your basketball opinions are null and void
"if he just stayed in toronto.."
