Draymond Green And Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Mock The Clippers For Giving Up In The NBA Bubble

Los Angeles Clippers get exposed for blowing a 3-1 lead in the 2020 bubble.

4 Min Read

Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The COVID-19 pandemic had a massive impact on the NBA world and during the peak of its run, the league had to stop activity entirely. While the 2019-2020 season did resume later that summer, it was at a detriment to the Clippers, who were recently mocked for their inability to persevere through the ordeal.

Draymond: “There was reports that came out during that time where y’all were having meetings and the season stopped. The season stopping and people not wanting to play, they say that was from the Clippers. Is there any truth to that?”

KCP: “How in the hell you up 3-1, even if you talked about leaving, you up 3-1. Finish the job and go and lose in the next round!”

Draymond: “If you ask me, they left a championship sitting at the table…”

KCP: “I’ve heard it that, yeah, it did come from the Clippers. I don’t know who said it but those boys were ready to go. First team ready to go.”

Draymond: “That’s crazy. those boys left a golden opportunity sitting right there on the table  and they never got it again.”

The Lakers ended up winning the 2020 NBA championship behind the greatness of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. But before the league was forced to take a hiatus, the Clippers were considered one of the early frontrunners for the championship.

They finished 2nd in the West that season with a 49-23 record and both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George entered the postseason fully healthy and fully healthy after weeks of inactivity. On paper, they had the best roster in the West led by two All-Star wings and a core of veteran role-players like Lou Williams, Terance Mann, Montrezl Harrell, Ivica Zubac, and Marcus Morris. In the locker room, they were led by the esteemed and well-respected Doc Rivers, who is considered one of the best coaches of the modern NBA.

Despite all that they had going for them that year, the Clippers never advanced past the second round. After narrowly beating the Mavericks in the first round, they took a 3-1 lead over the Denver Nuggets to take control of the West Semi-Finals. They went on to lose the next three straight games in embarrassing fashion.

The Clippers, like every other team who qualified, were confined to a specified quarantine zone in the city of Orlando. The NBA tried its best to make the players comfortable by renting out a huge resort where they could live, work, and relax until the post-season was concluded.

It’s no secret that conditions in the bubble were not to the standard of many players, who felt trapped and miserable that they were unable to leave or see their families during the ordeal. Naturally, the conditions would be considered luxury living for most Americans but the Clippers (like many others) just couldn’t get locked in as things were.

The Clippers essentially gave up in that Nuggets series, and it’s a decision that many people around the league believe cost them a title. Of course, even after several more attempts, the Clippers were never able to redeem themselves and now Paul George is on a different team with a completely new set of teammates. The bubble in 2020 was really the best chance the Clippers had of a championship and they completely wasted it.

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Follow:
Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *