Los Angeles Clippers: Out of the Shadow?

Los Angeles Clippers: Out of the Shadow?

Since 1984, the Clippers team has been in the shadow of the Lakers. Neighboring with a franchise that represents Hollywood and Flash is tough to go up against. Producing star players like Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant. While the Clippers have been the exact opposite, They have been a joke with an awful track record. Now, times have changed. The Clippers have a new owner. Steve Ballmer is a man who has deep pockets and a love for the sport. It started in the 2010s. They drafted a young superstar, Blake Griffin, and traded for superstar Chris Paul. The franchise became serious. Then in 2019, the major news dropped. Kawhi Leonard signed with the franchise, along with Paul George, who was traded. Los Angeles is serious now. Players want to come play there. James Harden demanded a trade there this season. The Clippers have the chance to leave the Laker's shadow. They can find themselves winning their first title. With three Hall of Famers running the show, Kawhi Leonard can be the second player after Lebron to win a championship with three different teams.

Kawhi Leonard is one of the greatest small forwards the league has ever seen. He earned a final MVP award in San Antonio. Then he got traded to Toronto and won them their first ever title. Since then, Kawhi has dealt with a lot of bullshit. Injuries in 2021 led to his post-season ending too soon. And in 2022, Kawhi once again got injured in the first round. It is crazy that despite the damages, he continues to play at a high level. Averaging 24 points per game on a 64% true shooting percentage. Along with 6.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists. A guy who I thought would retire a lot sooner continues to play elite basketball. His playstyle is one of the best to watch.

 One of the most fundamental sound players is Kawhi Leonard. He can get to the basket using his strength and is great at post-up play. He is a product of Tim Duncan and Greg Popavich, as he has pure skill and no flash. Leonard can create his own shot and handle the ball. He is one of the best mid-range shooters in the league. And he can stretch the floor as he is shooting 42 percent behind the arc. Also, he is an underrated passer. Kawhi demands the defender's attention. This opens the floor for James Harden and Paul George. Leonard has gravity, which grabs the defenders attention. Kawhi is known for his defense. A former defense player of the year. He uses his body so well. Leonard uses his length, strength, width, and big hands well. Kawhi can guard the best of players in the play-offs. Due to his fundamental skills, he has been able to translate his game into the post-season.

 One of the best post-season players in the league. The way Kawhi Leonard takes his game to another level is incredible. His 2019 run was incredible. The way he was able to beat All-Star Nikola Vucevic in the first round. Then, in the second round, he beat future MVP Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Jimmy Butler. Then beating Steph Curry and the Warriors in six games. That run established Kawhi as one of the greatest small forwards of all time. Then in 2020, he clamped up Luka Doncic in game 7 and posted up 33 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assets, and 5 steals. Showing himself to be one of the most dominant playoff players. The next season was a rematch against Dallas in Game 7. In it, Kawhi scored 28 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, and 4 steals. When healthy, Kawhi Leonard is one of the most talented playoff players. Now, Leonard has another superstar on his team. He has more help to make a run for a finals trip.

The Clippers made one of the biggest trades early in the season. Trading for the best shooting guard in the past decade, an MVP, and one of the greatest scorers the game has ever seen. James Harden is back home in LA. This deal was necessary. With the duo being injury-prone and with a lack of time in their hands, they needed to make a big move. Trading for a declining 34-year-old MVP who is looking to add a ring to his Hall of Fame career. He was the energy the team needed to catch up to the Denver Nuggets. His game has fit well among the two best off-ball players. His scoring ability, along with his playmaking, makes LA even more deadly on the offensive end.

James Harden's game is incredible. The way he is able to play makes for the team, which creates opportunities for the two wing stars. Along with being one of the best pick-and-roll players in the league with Ivica Zubac, Being one of the best playmakers and scorers in the league, he demands the attention of the defenders. James is one hell of a ball-hander, as he can create shots for himself. Along with being able to drive to the rim, James's offensive skill is a necessity. He can take on the load when one of them can't find their rhythm. It also takes pressure off Kawhi and PG. They can focus on defense. Harden can run the offense. He can come up big in the post-season. No longer does he have the pressure of leading the team to wins. He can look into becoming a third option if he can't find his shot. Harden has the chance to break the play-off curse that he has. He has the chance to win the final MVP if he takes over the offense. But that is a big if and a hard sell. Either James Harden breaks the ceiling or continues to be a failure in the postseason.

For the past decade, it has been the same story for James Harden. After he shows the world that he is one of the greatest players in the world, he shits the bed come playoff time. It has been a repeated offense for the MVP. In 2017, he had the chance to reach the Western Conference Finals. This was because Kawhi was injured. He had one of the worst performances, as he scored 10 points and 7 assists on six turnovers. And in 2018, the Rockets missed 27 straight threes. His game was not made for the post-season. He takes too much of the load on offense. But, even recently, as the second option, James fell into the same problem. An abysmal performance where he dropped 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists on 5 turnovers. That was an embarrassment. It showed the world that even with Harden as the second option, he can't take over post-season games. Now, he is a third option for the Clippers. He lacks the pressure to take over every game. But he must lead in games where the wing duo can't get it going. James Harden is the x-factor of the Clippers. If he plays at an elite level, there is nobody stopping them. The former MVP can either come up short or disappoint. He has scarified his game for the better players, which is commendable. James Harden and Russell Westbrook could be big help in the locker room and on the court in the play-offs.

Russell Westbrook has reinvented his career in LA. No longer is he the 2017 MVP Westbrook, but he has been one of the best role players in the league. Russell is one of the best transition players in the league. As he gets the rebound and goes full force down the other end, Despite his game, he can still go fast as hell. Westbrook is a great outlook passer, as he can move the ball in a fast break. Westbrook is good at kicking it out to the shooter or dumping it out to Zubac. He has also become a good off-ball player. One of the best parts of Westbrook's comeback has been his defense. He is great at guarding the ball and has been an awesome chase-down blocker. He is getting steals this season and is one of the best guard rebounders. Russell Westbrook could come up big in the playoffs and bring energy to the court. He has accepted his new role and changed his game for two of his best teammates. He is great at playing off the big 3. Having experience playing with Paul George.

When it is all said and done, Paul George will go down as one of the most underrated players of all time. Due to the fact that he is playing in an era with elite small forwards, Players like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Kawhi Leonard have led the talk for the past decade. One of the best two-way players in the game. He can score at an elite level and defend the best player on the opposing end. PG was a runner-up in the 2019 MVP race, with 4 defensive teams and 5 All NBA teams. Proving the value of his play. But the problem Paul has faced is that he has an injury track record. It has been a reoccurring problem for the nine-time all-star. It has hurt the Clippers' chance to make a deep playoff run. When PG is healthy, he is one of the most difficult players to guard.

Paul George is an elite off-ball player who can shoot a spot-up 3-point shot. One of his best abilities is that he can shoot off the screen and cut to the basket. He is a great ball player. Paul can get to the basket without breaking a sweat, hit his midrange, and make a three-point shot. PG is a great iso player, which makes the Clippers even more dangerous. His ball handling is perfect. Along with PG's pull-up, that makes him a danger on offense. And on defense, he is a great ball defender. Paul gets stealthy and knows how to use his height, length, and wingspan. All around, Paul George is a talented player. He can shoot, defend, and pass. With his god-given build, it has taken him far in his career. But the problem with PG is that he has been questionable in the play-offs.

Playoffs and Paul George have a complicated relationship. One of the funniest moments for PG was when he dubbed himself "Playoff P." Then, his team was eliminated in six games. He only scored five points in the game six elimination game against Utah. Then, in the 2020 playoff run, the Clippers blew a 3-1 lead, and Paul scored only 10 points in game 7. It was a total embarrassment. But Paul was able to turn it around. In 2021, Kawhi gets injured, and PG takes over. In the closing game, he scored 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. He was able to defeat the stereotypes around him. Now, the pressure isn't on Paul anymore. With James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, he can take less load on offense. When the game isn't going well for him, he can look to those two. If all three players get it going, it will be scary. And the Clippers have another weapon off the bench in Norman Powell.

Norman Powell has been one of the best sixth man in the league. He is a great off-ball scorer and can create his own shot. Powell is a great spark plug off the bench who brings in great energy. With his championship experience, he can come up big in the playoffs. Norman Powell provides a lot to the team, along with Zubac.

Ivica Zubac has been a top-ten big man in the league. He is great at being a pick-and-roll basket. And with good passers on the Clippers, he has been able to get dunks off of dump passes. Zubac is a talented rim protector. A big man is important against Nikola Jokic. Ivica is the perfect role player to surround the Big 3. The Clippers have some solid role players.

The Clippers have some solid players in their depth. Mason Plumlee, who is a good backup big who can make passes, Terrance Mann is a solid role player who showed up big for the Clippers against the Jazz in the second round. Bones Hyland is a knockdown shooter, and Amir Coffey is a talented two-way player. And Daniel Theis is a good defender. LA has solid and well-experienced guys who can come up big. With Ty Lue as their coach and a talented front office, the Clippers could make a deep run.

LA’s front office is great. Jerry West and Frank Lawrence have done a great job of making LA contenders. Moving on from the Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, and Doc Rivers eras Now in the PG and Kawhi eras. Along with Ty Lue, who has proven to be a good coach. From his adjustments against the Mavs, where he experimented with line-ups. The expectations for the Clippers are high.

The expectations of the Clippers are high. With their core three players aging out and the new arena soon to roll out, LA needs a title that would go well with their new Inglewood stadium. James Harden, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook lack a championship. It's missing from their Hall of Fame resume. With another championship, it can continue to push Kawhi up in all-time greatness. The Clippers can make a deep run in the playoffs. Which could help them step out of the shadow of the Los Angeles Lakers.

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