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Recreation 5 noticed one other Luka Dončić postseason masterpiece. It was additionally one other James Harden Playoff dud. The end result was an nearly knockout blow to the Clippers’ Playoff possibilities in 2024.
Heading to Dallas, and staring down the barrel of elimination, Los Angeles has once more seen their postseason disrupted by Kawhi Leonard’s harm points. In the meantime, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to a first-round sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans and Paul George is but to agree a contract extension.
Coping with a continued knee concern, it’s unclear if Leonard will play once more on this sequence. It’s potential Leonard and George have performed their closing sport collectively in a Clipper uniform. In that case, probably the most all-in of all-in trades has been a stark disappointment.
Sure, they reached the Convention Finals for the primary time in franchise historical past, however that got here after Leonard tore his ACL.
This could be their second first-round lack of the Leonard-George period. The one time they made it to the second spherical with their two stars wholesome, they blew a 3-1 result in the Denver Nuggets within the bubble.
It appeared like a dream pairing in 2019.
Two, two-way wings; a two-time Finals MVP with a superb second choice; a tonne of depth round them. The configuration of the roster has modified a number of instances since then. Doc Rivers was changed by Tyronn Lue. Well being has been the obvious barrier to success for the Clippers, however that has been removed from their solely concern.
Well being Isn’t Their Solely Drawback
Chemistry was apparently guilty within the bubble. A scarcity of playmaking has typically been a difficulty. Harden and Russell Westbrook have been acquired to handle the purpose guard points. Each are a protracted, lengthy well beyond their respective primes, with Westbrook going six-for-35 over his final 4 video games. Harden added to his catalogue of postseason nightmares, going two-for-12 on Wednesday.
George, after all, has had his Playoff struggles up to now. He has been cold and hot this time round.
Steve Ballmer, the richest of NBA owners, has continued to spend vast sums on the staff. He has been prepared to go deep into the luxury tax to keep up depth, and brought full benefit of hen rights to maintain maintain of rotation gamers.
The Clippers have the second-highest payroll this season – they’ve little or no present from it, other than a brief window midway by means of the common season after they appeared like actual title challenges.
Ballmer has been prepared to take a position just like the Clippers are a title contender. They’ve been removed from it. Does his willingness to spend wane after the most recent disappointment?
Maybe it already has. In spite of everything, George would have certainly signed an extension by now if each events have been in settlement. He may have no scarcity of suitors if he makes it to free company, with the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic wanting like good touchdown spots.
What Subsequent?
If George declines his participant choice as anticipated, the Clippers nonetheless don’t have max cap house. P.J. Tucker, Ivica Zubac, and Terance Mann are owed greater than $11 million every subsequent season. Westbrook, Amir Coffey, and Kobe Brown even have assured cash.
The Clippers, similar to the Sixers, will certainly be reluctant to pay Harden what he’s prone to demand this offseason. Perhaps they let Harden stroll and maintain George. In that case, they gave away so much for a first-round exit. In the event that they pay each Harden and George, they will be going through some hefty penalties for exceeding the wage cap in years to return.
Perhaps George has seen sufficient. He’s about to enter his age-34 season and he’s nonetheless acting at an All-Star degree. Does he envisage the Clippers competing in a stacked Western Convention? Or would he moderately take an opportunity within the East? Becoming a member of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey have to be tempting. The upside of Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, and Franz Wagner can be a enjoyable closing act for the previous Pacer, too.
In fact, the Clippers might win the subsequent two video games and render the final 660 or so phrases irrelevant. With Leonard unlikely to play, although, the Clippers’ Playoff possibilities in 2024 are minimal, particularly as they’ve received to go on the street for Recreation Six.
This appears to be like so much like the tip of the Leonard-George period. Even when they keep collectively, their title window has shut, and they’re going through yet one more offseason looking for a magic repair, whereas changing into the most recent entrance workplace with a Harden conundrum.
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