The chief of Clippers’ veteran, James Harden, by no means missed the playoffs in 16 years and at present has the fourth longer sequence within the historical past of the NBA at 15, and he isn’t about to interrupt this race.
“We aren’t planning,” mentioned Harden in regards to the staff’s probabilities of lacking this season’s qualifiers.
Nonetheless, of their n ° 8 within the Western Convention, the sport match appears to be their future.
Whereas the six greatest groups routinely qualify for the playoffs, the 7-10 groups compete for the final two playoffs of the sport match.
Nonetheless, the clippers might have a shot in the event that they performed extra just like the staff that Beat the Atlanta Hawks on Friday that the one who Misplaced in opposition to the 18 Pélicans of New Orleans Within the first recreation of his three recreation journey final week.
“We now have 15 video games left, so every match is vital,” Harden instructed journalists after the clippers’ victory 121-98 in opposition to the Hawks in Atlanta.
The Clippers (37-30) stay put in within the eighth and the probabilities of passing in entrance of the Golden Warriors n ° 6 and the n ° 7 of Minnesota Timberwolves, each and a half video games in entrance of the Clippers on Saturday, appear to be slim.
The Warriors, 38-28, getting into the match on Saturday night in opposition to the New York Knicks, gained six video games in a row and 9 of their final 10. The Timberwolves (39-29) gained seven in a row.
The upcoming program of Clippers will make the duty much more tough.
They return house to face Charlotte’s Hornets on Sunday, adopted by the video games in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers on the head of the League, the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, the very best staff of the Western Convention.
They will misunderstand one other sequence of three consecutive defeats, which they’ve accomplished six occasions this season.
The Clippers, nevertheless, are inspired by their latest play which led them to win 5 of their final six.
The Clippers rebounded after a disappointing defeat in opposition to the Pélicans to show victories in opposition to Miami’s heat and Hawks. They confirmed a renewed effort on the protection, particularly in transition, which had disappeared currently.
“I believe we did a very good job,” mentioned coach Tyronn Lue. “I assumed KD (Kris Dunn) did a very good job by giving the tone, not just for the sport, however this third trimester. We got here out defensively and we had been all locked up. »»
The Clippers had 14 interceptions and 5 blocked pictures and restricted the Hawks to 42% of the shot within the discipline and 27.3% (9 for 33) from the three -point seaside.
As profitable because the journey has completed, Harden urged his teammates to not get forward and examine the classification.
“The journey was good, might have been higher,” mentioned Harden. “I can not look to the long run, we’ve got to take a recreation at a time and give attention to the following opponent.”
Simmons returns
In six video games with the Clippers, Ben Simmons posted 29 catchy assists with two reversals. In his first recreation, after lacking seven video games due to a painful left knee, he collected 4 assists, two interceptions and no turnover in opposition to the Hawks.
His recreation didn’t go unnoticed by his teammates.
“I’ve to be taught one thing effectively,” mentioned Harden, who had six reversals first half on Friday however none within the second.
Simmons, who signed a one -year settlement with the Clippers On February 10, instructed journalists in Atlanta that his creation of video games was “only a feeling by creating these readings and pushing the ball and that the blokes put themselves of their place. They make my job simpler.
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