The Los Angeles Clippers are spectacular, hitting form at a gradual, harmful stage of the season.
Getting into the 2024-25 season, the franchise endured doubts whether or not they might compete following the departure of Paul George’s free company.
Up to now, the Los Angeles Clippers have denied doubts. The ball membership, led by James Harden’s brilliance, remained aggressive. And regardless of delayed debuting in Kawi Leonard’s season after knee surgical procedure restoration, they continue to be a strong crew below the regular management of Ty Lou.
Within the nice season they’re exhibiting off, the Clippers nonetheless threat falling into play-in tournaments.
The Clippers are in a good spot within the NBA rankings. On the 40-31 card, they discover themselves in eighth place within the Western Convention.
Earlier than them are the Minnesota Timber Wolves (41-31) and the sixth Golden State Warriors (41-30), with seeded races doubtless operating till the ultimate day of the common season.
The Clippers have made a serious midseason commerce for Bogdan Bogdanovic, who has since offered “unimaginable” wonders. They went on a five-game successful streak, which was stopped on March 23 this yr by top-seeded Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
The extent of competitors has been strengthened as the soldiers present up in a dramatic gradual season push with Jimmy Butler’s blockbuster acquisition, and T-Wolves lastly greedy with Julius Randle.
Whereas it might be considering the grinds and out of doors noise which have been hugged as being in title contest, the Clippers are doubtless to have the ability to witness the tip of the season in untimely methods as a result of play-in event.
And for Norman Powell, the idea of play-in is unfair.
“I used to be good for us as a result of it was cash play and what is going on on with the (2020 NBA) bubble and what is going on on with all the things, however you are enjoying 82 video games for a motive,” he mentioned after making a low play of 9 factors with the shut lack of 103-101 lightning for the Clippers.
“The highest 8 groups are the highest 8 groups. You are providing groups that may’t make the playoffs of the previous few years a possibility in a single sport.
“It will probably occur something, so for a crew that labored so exhausting, put themselves within the playoff spot and raced simply to place it in danger in a single sport, that is form of unfair.”
Because it was launched throughout the pandemic in 2020, Play-In has been continued by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, extending protection from the seventh to the tenth seed each on the seventh and the West. To keep away from tanking, the event affords groups the chance to proceed competing for postseason spots and win titles.
Within the quick historical past of play-in tournaments, solely the 2022-23 Miami Warmth turned the primary eight-seeded in 24 years once they reached the NBA Finals, making them totally maximizing their eligibility for competitors.
For the Clippers, the highway to the NBA Championship could require them to transcend the probabilities of going through the Warriors or T-Wolves, passing both the No. 9 Sacramento Kings, the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks.
It might be a disgrace they could not make it straight into the playoffs as they have been lowered by the eighth place seed within the West on the finish of the common season. However ultimately, Powell simply shrugged as he and the Clippers might transfer right into a knockout spherical place.
“It really works within the league,” Powell admitted in regards to the play-in. “It is intense. I perceive that as a result of the viewers will go up and make more cash as a league.
“However we play 82 video games for a motive.”
