The LA Clippers continued to struggle for consistency after another loss, this time to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Clippers have won five games in their last 10 games but remain No. 4 in the Western Conference. So, can the Clippers maintain their spot and have home-court advantage in the playoffs?
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George combined for 49 points, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 112-104 loss at New Orleans. The Clippers were missing James Harden and Russell Westbrook, who played a vital role in their success this season.
Nevertheless, the Clippers must maintain the health of Leonard and George. Injuries have played a significant role in their success, or lack thereof, over the years. They play their final season at Crypto.com Arena before moving to a new location in Inglewood.
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LA Clippers team rankings
The LA Clippers remain fourth in the Western Conference, with a 42-24 record. They are still one of the best teams in the league but will need to play better if they want to have a better seed in the playoffs. They are three games behind third place, occupied by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
However, the good news for the Clippers is that the New Orleans Pelicans are two games behind despite Friday night’s loss. Still, they need to put together a strong performance in the latter part of the season to maintain home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
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LA Clippers Schedule
The Clippers have a relatively simple schedule for the rest of the season. That should be enough to secure the fourth seed, but they will need to stay consistent. Ty Lue overcame the difficulties that followed the arrival of James Harden, and their current difficulties are probably easier to overcome.
Kawhi Leonard and the rest of the team will still face high-profile teams like the Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns twice. However, they also have easier foes like the Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets.
LA Clippers X-Factor
There is no doubt that the X-factor for the LA Clippers in the final month of the season is their health. They are missing two of their “Big 4”: Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Westbrook is expected to return in the first round of the playoffs, while Harden is dealing with a minor shoulder injury.
Kawhi Leonard is bothered by back spasms and Paul George recently missed a game with left knee soreness. If the Clippers want to have a real chance at winning the NBA championship, they will need to keep their best players healthy.
