A new LA Clippers era launches in under a month when they open up their brand-new playpen—the Intuit Dome— in Inglewood, California. Will the loss of Paul George set the Clips back? Or will a the new Clippers era energize the team forward to the through the season and into the playoffs?
Does New LA Clippers Era Spell Success or Setback?
From Changing Roster to Changing Cribs
Finally, the time has arrived for a new LA Clippers era to breathe life after toiling and suffering in the basement of the Crypto.com arena. No longer are the Clippers “that roommate.”
It’s exciting to break away as a franchise and start anew. Going solo arena-wise, complete with new threads to boot, what does it mean for the Clippers as a basketball team? Can a new era be enough of a catalyst in propelling an entire team forward to NBA Finals glory? It’s iffy, but only because of the current state of the Clippers roster. Opening night in Inglewood will be a banger, for sure. The stars will be out, the lights shining bright, and Kevin Durant will also be in attendance, itching to kibosh the entire spectacle (the Clippers open their season against the Phoenix Suns).
Amidst the chaos and excitement, what effects will it have on winning? What effects will it have on Kawhi Leonard and James Harden? Will losing Paul George be a factor? There are many question marks to consider in this new Clippers era.
New Clippers Era Depends on Leonard & Harden
Last season, the Clippers were led by Kawhi, Harden, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook, even though Westbrook was much more of a role player than anything else. At present, it’s down to Kawhi and Harden. For Leonard, injuries are his greatest foe, and for Harden, it is the playoffs. It’s almost impossible to envision Leonard lasting the entire season, even if coach Ty Lue puts him in load management mode. History screams something will happen to Leonard at some point. James Harden can still electrify, but he can’t do it consistently. This leads to the question: if Leonard does go down, what will the Clippers do, and how far can they go with Harden leading the way? Prayers for health and availability for both players, especially Leonard. However, a grand opening to a new Clippers era could also include disaster if the team’s roster isn’t good enough to compete.
Paul George’s Loss Will Be Evident
Free agency wasn’t kind to the Clippers. Watching Paul George exit LA will affect the Clippers’ season one way or another. Yes, George battled his own injuries as a Clipper, but of the three superstars, George was the most reliable and consistent player on the court when healthy. Despite his injury history, he is still a top-20 player in the league. Joel Embiidand the Philadelphia 76ers will benefit nicely from acquiring his services. The Clippers, on the other hand, might wish he had stayed to be involved in this new Clippers era.
Finding A Way Win
It’s obviously too early to seriously speculate what will happen with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden this year and how far they can take their team. Still, it is a fresh start for a new Clippers era nonetheless. Finding a way to win and move past the elements of the game, George provided will be tough. Relying on Harden and injury-prone Leonard is risky. Regardless, a new LA Clippers era has arrived.
