The Los Angeles Clippers may have a top 4 record in the West but not everyone is sold on their potential in the postseason. According to Shaquille O’Neal, it’s up to George and Harden to get the team back on track but their previous playoff track record leaves a lot of room for doubt…
“This ain’t High School of AAU where you gotta call plays. He has the ball most of the time,” said O’Neal. “Harden gotta get himself going. James Harden wanna win a championship; he gotta be a vital part of that [Clippers] offense. He has to be consistent. Him — no disrespect — and [Paul George] sometimes they disappear in the playoffs. If they can be consistent, then all the high hopes people have for the Clippers, maybe the Clippers can get it done. That’s why I’m not high on them.”
James Harden was a fringe All-Star candidate at one point this season, but his play has fallen off hard over the past few weeks. Since the All-Star break, James has been a shell of himself, averaging roughly 14.8 points on 39% shooting from the field and 31% from three. The Clippers are 12-11 in that span and are now just two games in front of the surging Dallas Mavericks.
Harden was able to drop 20 points in the win over Denver on Thursday, but he shot just 26.1% from the field and made just two threes all night.
None of this mentions Paul George, who also has a track record for disappearing in the playoffs. Dating back to his days with the Pacers, Thunder, and early Clippers years, George has only made the Conference Finals three times and has lost every series.
Considering everything at play, it makes sense why Shaq (or anyone) might have some doubts about Los Angeles but they’ll have a chance to prove themselves soon enough.
The Clippers Are In Trouble
The Clips are on track to win 50+ games this season, but many critics can’t help but feel they are headed in the wrong direction — and in more ways than one.
We already know about Harden’s ongoing shooting struggles and it could cost the Clippers a series if it continues like this. With even Paul George at a loss for words, it remains to be seen when/if “the Beard” will break out of his slump.
A team-wide problem has been the performance on defense. With Kawhi in and out of the lineup, the defensive resistance has fallen off a cliff and it has yet to recover.
For a team with three stars, a ridiculous sum in payroll, and championship aspirations, this is hardly the way they wanted to come into the playoffs, and now they are facing questions about just how far they can go. If the playoffs started today, they’d be set for a tough series against the Dallas Mavericks, who are playing some of their best basketball right now. That’s not to mention other West contenders like the Nuggets, Thunder, and Timberwolves.
With arguably the best roster in the West, they should stand chance against anyone but only if they are fully healthy and if Harden is playing like a star. Clearly, some have their doubts that it will work out but only time will tell if they can break the cycle and finally chart new ground for the franchise.
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