Properly, it was enjoyable whereas it lasted.
When information of Chris Paul’s commerce to the Rockets broke Wednesday morning, it was a transparent sign that the Clippers had been starting some type of rebuild. Will or not it’s an entire renovation or only a rearrangement of the furnishings?
It appears to be like like they’re going to attempt to maintain Blake Griffin, but it surely’s potential he strikes on as nicely. JJ Redick is on his manner out, and perhaps DeAndre Jordan is just too.
It is all the time a disgrace when an period involves an finish for an expert sports activities workforce, particularly one which has suffered the unenviable destiny of continued success and not using a championship.
The Clippers have had a superb six-year run. These numbers are much more gaudy in comparison with the earlier 30 moribund years for the franchise. Throughout this current run, they had been now not the “different” workforce in Los Angeles, they had been the perfect workforce in Los Angeles.
Since December 2011, when the Clippers acquired Paul after his commerce with the Lakers was canceled (a enjoyable idea now with superteams being the norm), they’ve been top-of-the-line groups within the league.
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The Clippers have made the playoffs yearly since Paul arrived, six in a row. They completed third, fourth or fifth within the Western Convention every of these years. Not unhealthy, particularly contemplating that from 1978 (after they grew to become the Clippers) till 2011, they made the playoffs a complete of 4 occasions and by no means completed within the prime 5 within the West.
In true Hollywood vogue, additionally they carried out brilliantly. Lob Metropolis has attracted consideration from the media and well-known followers.
However alas, the playoffs weren’t as variety to the Clippers because the common season. Both they had been coping with a key damage, taking part in in opposition to a superior workforce, or just losing a sequence they need to have received. They misplaced their sequence thrice within the first spherical, thrice within the second spherical. They’ve by no means reached the Western Convention Finals.
And whereas that could be the lasting impression of the Paul-Griffin period — a gifted workforce that by no means reached the West Finals — it should not be. With or and not using a title, this Clippers group is clearly the perfect in franchise historical past. This should not be forgotten.
However have they modified the tradition? That is what we’re about to search out out. And I believe we’ll discover out that they did.
Verify your nearest Lakers fan Twitter account and you will see one thing like “Good! Paul’s gone, now you’ll be able to return to being the doormat and nugatory franchise you all the time had been.”
However I do not anticipate one other 30 years of darkness just like the one which preceded this current election. With Jerry West now taking the lead and constructing round Griffin or no matter items you might get for Griffin if he leaves, I believe it will not be troublesome for the Clippers to remain related.
Even when they do not add something, a beginning lineup with Griffin, Jordan, Austin Rivers and Patrick Beverley is sufficient to maintain them within the prime half of the West, on the very least. Plus, free brokers now not view the Clippers because the NBA’s model of the Witness Safety Company, so they may come calling.
Plus, the workforce will little question need to put a superb product on the ground as they transfer out of Staples Middle and into a brand new enviornment in Inglewood within the coming years.
This all represents a speedy rebuild for me.
The Lob Metropolis period is over, and it did not carry a title. However do not anticipate the Clippers to return to being…nicely, the Clippers. They took too many steps ahead, solely to take a couple of steps again to undo every little thing.
Shad Powers is a sports activities columnist for The Desert Solar. Contact him at (760) 778-4627 or [email protected]. Observe him on Twitter (@shad_powers), Instagram (@shadp40) or on Fb.
This text was initially printed on Palm Springs Desert Solar: Chris Paul commerce indicators finish of Lob Metropolis period, however not finish of Clippers relevance
