The Los Angeles Clippers have arguably been the biggest story during the NBA offseason. After holding DeAndre Jordan hostage once he decided to re-sign with the team, the Clippers were able to keep their main core that has been very successful. They were then able to add Lance Stephenson, Wesley Johnson, Josh Smith, Pablo Prigioni, and Paul Pierce without having to give up anyone in their main core. With the talent that has been added this off-season, the Clippers have expectations that are higher than ever before. But, we have seen what happens with the Clippers when expectations are high, and it is not pretty.
No more Excuses for the Los Angeles Clippers
All of the players the Clippers added fit their system perfectly. Josh Smith and Lance Stephenson would both easily start for other teams in the NBA, but have accepted a pivotal role off of the bench. Both players have the talent to excel, but have not fully lived up to expectations. Stephenson had a dud year in Charlotte, while Smith was able to regain respect during his stint with the Houston Rockets. If it were not for Smith, the Clippers would have more than likely made their first Conference Finals ever. These two are very good playmakers and will help take the distributing roles off of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. This could possibly be the last shot for Stephenson to prove he deserves to be in the league.
Although Smith and Stephenson are the younger and more athletic players, the biggest acquisition for the Clippers was Paul Pierce. Pierce has already left his mark on the game; he just simply wants another shot at a championship. This could not be a more perfect fit. The Clippers have a reputation of not being serious when they need to be, and Pierce will change the landscape of the locker room immediately. His veteran leadership and ability to deliver in the clutch will help this team tremendously. It is also great to see Pierce and head coach Doc Rivers reunited. This is Pierce’s last season, and he wants to go out with a bang.
While the Clippers have one of the deepest teams on paper, the organization needs to fix all of the off the court problems if they want to truly be successful. Rivers needs to fix his problems with the front office to establish a healthy relationship. Paul and Jordan need to get over their problems with each other and realize the success they can have. These problems may not be major, but they could have a lingering effect on the team throughout the year.
With all the talent that has been added this off-season, there are no more excuses for the Clippers. The talent is there and they have to produce. They should have been in the Conference Finals last year, but did not get serious when it mattered and blew a 3-1 series lead to the Houston Rockets. The collapse in game 6 is one of the biggest collapses we have seen in playoff history. This will be Paul’s 11th season, and he has yet to reach a Conference Finals. He may be one of the best point guards we have ever seen, but he simply has to get over the hump. If the Clippers do not reach the Conference Finals this upcoming season, serious changes will need to happen.
