Another sign the stars could be aligning for a deep playoff run for LA Clippers

There’s another sign the stars could align for the LA Clippers to make a deep playoff run.

A little over a month before the start of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the LA Clippers are rather locked in the 4th seed in the Western Conference standings. Barring a complete collapse from them or another top 3 team, it looks like the Clippers are going to enter the playoffs in this spot.

With the state of the West seeding, the 4th seed isn’t that bad for the Clippers. If the season ended today, the Clippers would face the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round, then likely the No. 1 seed Minnesota Timberwolves in the semifinals. All told, the Clippers could find a path to the Conference Finals in which they could avoid the Denver Nuggets by then. If so, it would be a huge win in favor of Los Angeles.

A few days ago, however, the The Clippers’ championship chances took a big hit while Russell Westbrook broke his hand. Monday evening, this atmosphere changed a little. Even though the Clippers lost a game to the Milwaukee Bucks without Giannis, they received some good news on the injury front.

After undergoing hand surgery, the belief is that Westbrook should be back in the Clippers’ lineup before the start of the playoffs. Overall, this is great news for a team that doesn’t have a ton of rotation-worthy depth on its roster.

Looking at the stat sheet, Westbrook isn’t putting up huge numbers coming off the bench. However, he has played a key role this season in many other ways. Because as polarizing a player as he is on the field, the the leadership and experience he brings to the judiciary and in the locker room cannot be overstated.

If Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden can survive the next few weeks on the injury front, the Clippers will enter the playoffs as healthy as they have been in a very long time. In fact, the last time the Clippers entered the playoffs (in the 2021 playoffs), they reached the conference finals. They lost to the Phoenix Suns largely due to an injury to Kawhi that kept him out of the WCF.

In short, if the Clippers are healthy heading into the playoffs, they will have as good a chance as any other team to make it out of the West. Little by little, the stars continue to align for a deep run for the Clippers.