The standings have been finalized after the last few games, and the Los Angeles Clippers will end up facing the Phoenix Suns in the postseason. This is a highly anticipated matchup that notably features Kevin Durant facing off against Kawhi Leonard in a superstar battle.
The majority of people are picking the Phoenix Suns to win the series, and rightfully so. The team has one of the best duos in the league in Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, with other solid players on the roster as well, such as Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton. They should absolutely be viewed as the favorites to win the series, and their talent level suggests that they will be able to do so.
With that being said, there is a small chance that the Los Angeles Clippers could potentially stage an upset over the superior team. There are a few reasons why that could happen, and we discuss why there’s some potential for the Clippers to beat the Suns down below. Obviously, it is unlikely, but the Clippers definitely have some things working in their favor.
The Los Angeles Clippers Have Much Better Depth
One of the key areas of weakness for the Phoenix Suns is the depth around their core four players. Though they got some of the best options from the buyout market in free agency, it is clear that bench play is an issue for the team. Some of their backup options are not championship-level role players, and perhaps the minutes when those players are on the court can be exploited by the Los Angeles Clippers.
The key for the Clippers will be for their offensive bench players to step up. Bones Hyland and Norman Powell will definitely be key for the team in the playoffs, as both players profile as spark plug scorers coming off the bench. Their offense will absolutely be necessary for the Clippers to be able to keep up with the Phoenix Suns’ high scoring, and both players are in line to get solid minutes in the playoffs. Shot creation is a high-value skill when it comes to the playoffs, and role players who can get their own buckets are clearly necessary for any championship team.
Aside from their designated scores off the bench, one of the things that work in the Clippers’ favor is that their roster is full of 3PT shooting veterans such as Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington, and Eric Gordon, who can step up and have big games from time to time. Obviously, they’re not necessarily consistent 20 PPG scorers, but we have years of experience watching those role players step up in important moments.
Of course, in the playoffs, depth matters less, and star power is key. This is where losing Paul George will clearly hurt the Clippers. But if their role players can step up and collectively provide some offense to make up for Paul George’s offense, this can be a more competitive series than people think.
Russell Westbrook Can Be An X-Factor
Russell Westbrook is not the MVP-caliber player he once was, but the thing that is working in his favor is the fact that he is in a favorable situation and, as a result, has been playing well. The Los Angeles Clippers have a lot of 3PT shooters who can take advantage of Westbrook’s playmaking, and coach Ty Lue has been willing to make him one of the primary ball handlers on the roster.
The Clippers have clearly been focused on trying to help Westbrook be the best version of himself, and Westbrook has also helped the team maintain its positioning as a playoff team and avoid the play-in tournament. With that being said, Russell Westbrook will need to turn back the clock and try to give the Clippers All-NBA-type production in the playoffs.
Over the course of the last 10 games, Russell Westbrook is averaging 18.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 7.4 APG for the Los Angeles Clippers. He has also been highly efficient during that time span, shooting 52.6% from the field and 42.5% from the 3PT range on 4 attempts a game. However, the team will need him to produce even more in the series against the Phoenix Suns, and if he can increase his output while not absolutely tanking his efficiency, Westbrook can definitely be an x-factor for the Clippers.
Kawhi Leonard Has Another Gear In The Playoffs
The key player for the Los Angeles Clippers will of course, be Kawhi Leonard. He is a superstar that is already a top 75 player of all time, and he has shown that he can be the No. 1 option on a championship team. This Phoenix Suns will arguably be his greatest test yet, though, especially since he is playing without his co-star. Kawhi Leonard will be leading an underdog team against a squad with a lot of talent, and the odds are clearly against him.
The playoffs are definitely where Kawhi Leonard thrives, though, and we have seen him step up and be an MVP-level player in the playoffs quite frequently over the last few seasons. He has averaged 29.9 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 4.5 APG for the Los Angeles Clippers in the playoffs starting with the 2018-19 season, and it is clear that he is a playoff riser that steps up in the biggest moments. He will need to hit timely shots and try to give the team elite offensive production while also guarding Devin Booker or Kevin Durant.
It will be interesting to see what Kawhi Leonard looks like in the playoffs. If he can be the two-way force that we saw in 2019, there’s a chance that he could will the Los Angeles Clippers to a few wins against the Phoenix Suns. We know the offense will always be there: but Kawhi Leonard will also need to go hard on the defensive end and guard the best opposing players, and hopefully, he rises to the challenge.
Will The Los Angeles Clippers Manage To Defeat The Phoenix Suns?
It is definitely hard to see the Los Angeles Clippers upsetting the Phoenix Suns as of right now, simply based on the talent disparity between the two teams due to Paul George’s absence. It is unlikely that he will come back in the first round either, so this is the team the Clippers will have to roll with against the Suns.
Still, despite the talent difference, the Los Angeles Clippers can make it a competitive series. To win the series, though, the team will need to collectively step up, and they will also need a good amount of luck as well. Still, we have seen stranger upsets in the league, and we’ll see how the series goes for the team.
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