The Clippers have been one of the NBA’s most successful regular season teams over the past several years, but that regular season success hasn’t translated into a deep playoff run — the team has been eliminated in either the first or second round of the postseason in each of the last five years.
With Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and J.J. Redick all on track to become unrestricted free agents this summer, the Clippers could find themselves at a crossroads, writes Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report. Although there’s still optimism within the organization about Paul and Griffin re-signing, things could change quickly if the Clippers suffer another first-round defeat this spring.
Ding provides a handful of interesting Clippers-related tidbits in his piece, so let’s round up some of the highlights…
- “More and more people” around the NBA believe that Griffin isn’t necessarily a lock to remain with the Clippers in free agency, according to Ding. Griffin’s interests in the entertainment industry make him likely to stick in Los Angeles, but Ding suggests that the star forward may be open to considering the Celtics or even the Lakers.
- For his part, Griffin weighed in on the Clippers, who have been up and down this season and have played sub-.500 ball since the All-Star break: “One thing you can control always is effort. Our effort hasn’t been there at times as a team. Haven’t had trust. I think that’s something we talked about a lot early in the season: the trust. Knowing the next man’s going to be there for you, knowing you’ve got to be there for whoever goes next. I think we miss that.”
- One team source indicated to Ding that Paul’s “hard-driving nature and politician’s polish” make it hard for teammates to get close to him. According to that source, “nobody’s really friends with Chris.” Another source tells Ding that CP3 is closer to Doc Rivers than he is to any of his teammates.
- There’s still some “in-house resentment” toward coach’s son Austin Rivers, but it “isn’t out of control,” Ding writes.
The problem with the clippers is that they have a bunch of punks you can not depend on in crucial situations during important games.Reddick,Griffin and Jordan are all turds. Paul isn’t much liked and Rivers is the most overrated coach in the NBA. They are a train wreck.
Cp3 would look great on an Eastern Conference team where he has an actual shot at a title. West is too good. East is just LBJ.
LMAO LAKERS?! forsure dude.. There is no crossroads. We simply win the chip this year and get melo in the offseason #fightme #ringzzzzz
The only chip Melo is, is a cow chip.
Last night was typical Griffin. He has a really good game and then in crunch time he turns the ball over which leads to a winning basket for the other team. I’ve seen him do similar things so many times it makes me sick. In crunch time he will either turn the ball over, miss a layup, or missed a free-throw when it counts.
This team does not need Blake Griffin, bring in Melo who will actually welcome being a 1st option because Griffin nor Paul is a 1st option. Re-sign Paul and Redick and get Jordan more involved simple as that. Blake should go to OKC with Russ.
I’m sort-of surprised the Clippers didn’t consider Griffin (FA at the end of the year) for Melo. Granted, Melo isn’t exactly going to put them over the top, but to get the extra year on the contract, 99.9% see CP3 resign to play with his friend, and get the inside/outside game player they need would’ve made sense. For the Knicks, I could see them turning Griffin around in another deal if it were to happen. I guess the rule of having two max contracts from another team blocked it directly, but a third team involved could’ve possibly made it happen.
If Doc was staying he would have traded one of these guys in their contract year for the good of the team. Get something in return. Now they can ALL walk, including Rivers !!
As Magic Johnson said a couple years ago after a first-round exit when much more was expected, “they’re still the Clippers.”
I think Magic Johnson said it best “they’re still the Clippers” …
Truthfully they will be lucky to make it to the 2nd round. All the NBA karma has come back to haunt them as CP3 should have been a Laker. Not to mention the dirty deal of DJ and what he did to Dallas. All if the guys who convinced him to stay a Clipper will all be gone to free agency with tbe exception of Doc’ s Daddy ball point gaurd and DJ. All Laker haters can hate all you want but I know you can’t cover statues with selfies. Cover the banners all you want but you will Never have one to hang in our home of Staples Center. We WILL be back and we WILL win another ring before any clipper team. Go Lakers