For the last time, the Los Angeles Clippers led by their trio of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan failed to move past the first round of the playoffs in the Western Conference. Of course the injuries sustained by Paul and Griffin played an impact in their early exit, but the repeated failure of the Clippers prompts a reconsideration of the team if they truly wish to make a deeper run in the playoffs. The Clippers and their stars are obviously not void of options, though.
All or Nothing
Perhaps it really has been bad luck plaguing the team all of these years. On paper and during the regular season the Clippers were a pretty solid team with perhaps the smartest player in the league running the floor for them. The dynamism of their all star big men surely made them a threat as well as the presence of their sharp shooters. With some substantial players circling the free agency, this coming summer would be the time to build on the foundation of Doc Rivers, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan. Then again, short of signing Paul George, perhaps adding another layer to the trio will only prolong the team’s suffering and prove once again insufficient to do any real damage in the playoffs.
Go Griffin-less
Once upon time Blake Griffin was one of the most revered and unstoppable big men in the NBA. At his position, he was quick enough to go around you or simply go over you if you got in his way. Yet, injuries have plagued him since his first season and over the years they have really began to take a toll on his game. Combine that with the fact that NBA has turned into a three point shooting contest almost every night and Blake Griffin begins to look obsolete. While I personally believe he can still get the job done, perhaps he can no longer do that on the Clippers. With DeAndre Jordan taking over as the prime big man on the team, especially with being named as an all star this year, maybe it’s time for the Clippers to part ways with their former high flier. Perhaps he’s not the only one.
CP3
Chris Paul, like Griffin, was revered at his position for years. Granted his passion and intelligence, he is still one of the best players in the league, but as of yesterday his tenure with the Clippers came to a halting stop as he was traded to the Houston Rockets . Rumors started circulating after the first round that he was looking for other options. The front runner for the floor general was rumored to be the Spurs, but Chris Paul’s desire to play with James Harden seemed to shift the momentum in the Rockets favor. His unhappiness with organization clashed with his love for them, prompting CP3 to vent on Twitter that he was overwhelmed with emotions. As arguably the best player the Clippers had, there is an apparent power vacuum in LA. With the free agency so close and players like Kyle Lowry available, now may be the best time to fill the gap. In fact, now it may be the best time for the team to start from scratch.
Reboot
DeAndre Jordan may be the only member of the Clippers big 3 to remain after this summer. With the wealth of players in the free agency, now may be the best time for the Clippers to restructure their team around a new set of stars in hopes of winning a championship. Of course no one wants to see the end of a great era, but with so many unsuccessful attempts at getting to the finals an overhaul of the current team may be the only option for the frustrated Clippers. Of course there is no guarantee that a change up will ensure them a championship, but it may their best shot at one. It’s clear that something isn’t working in LA and perhaps signing some new blood will be the best option for the Clippers to finally get that shiny circular thing that every player in the NBA wants.
The Clippers have been pretty good for a good time now, but clearly it isn’t good enough. Whether it be they sign some new players or part with their old ones or even a combination of both, something has the change if the organization hopes to win a championship. It will be sad to watch a possible split up happen, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
The Soapbox 