Los Angeles Clippers have been a successful franchise over the last two seasons under the leadership of head coach and team president Doc Rivers. The team has back to back seasons with 56 and 57 wins respectively and they’ve been one of the most popular teams to watch in the NBA.
The issue is, they’ve just been stuck. Right there. At that win total and they haven’t made a step into the Western Conference Finals, not getting past the second round of the NBA playoffs in each of the last four seasons dating back to the Vinny Del Negro days. To some, that might be viewed as a success, in the NBA world where winning is primary target number one, it might mean its time to restart this franchise before they continue to be stagnant as some of their top players talents diminish.
Following from Zach Lowe of Grantland.
The Clippers have had three cracks at it with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan all in their primes, and they’re not afraid to admit the fourth could be their last — that another flameout will force them to ask whether the core has grown stale.
“We’re right on the borderline,” Doc Rivers tells Grantland during a long sit-down at his office. “I have no problem saying that. I’m a believer that teams can get stale. After a while, you don’t win. It just doesn’t work. We’re right at the edge. Oklahoma City is on the edge. Memphis, too. We just have to accept it.”
The Clippers star is Chris Paul. The point guard is approaching the final part of his career and he’s looking to win a title immediately. The other two big pieces of their squad, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, are right in the middle of their prime but together, the trio of Paul, Griffin and Jordan hasn’t shown much results.
So could Doc blow up this roster? It’s not a crazy idea to think about and wilder things have happened in the NBA involving the Clippers but there is something to be said about Doc noticing that the end of this run might be near.
The 2015-16 roster has a ‘win now’ feel to it with the offseason acquisitions of guys like Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith and Pablo Prigioni, all guys who might be on their last chance in the NBA but still have some sort of talent.
Can the Clippers make a run for the NBA title? I think the only competition they have to worry about out in the West is the San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors and the only undefeated opponent, the injury bug. If they can navigate through all those horrible opponents, the Clippers can be the 2016 NBA Champions.
