The Los Angeles Clippers do not lack star energy on their roster, however age and damage considerations do not deliver the least confidence of their probabilities of going far.
The Los Angeles Clippers took the Denver Nuggets to seven video games within the first spherical of the playoffs, rapidly getting busy this offseason, including the expertise they’ve received round James Harden, Kawi Leonard and Evikasback.
Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, Brook Lopez and John Collins all joined the roster to strengthen the title’s odds, however that solely has one drawback. It is not 2018, and most of these gamers have been previous Prime and have raised considerations about sturdiness all through the 82-game season.
Final summer time, the Philadelphia 76ers all-in with the growing older Paul George, usually injuring Joel Embiid and already injuring Tyrees Maxie. On paper, the workforce ought to have competed for the title, however their well being slowed them down and completed 24-58.
The common age is 34.8, and the Clippers may very well be on the identical boat as final 12 months’s Six.
“I consider this workforce will probably be like Philadelphia final 12 months or that this workforce will have the ability to go to the championship,” Richard Jefferson mentioned. “That is their spectrum they usually can get harm. They’re simply primarily based on what we all know and we are able to see this workforce go to the championship.”
It’s unattainable to disclaim that the Clippers are extremely proficient, just like the 76ers, however their reliability and sturdiness are nonetheless of nice concern.
“Traditionally, when a workforce’s common age approaches receiving pensions than it is drafted, that is not a very good signal,” Jefferson added.
If their stars can all play over 60 video games and get wholesome in direction of the playoffs, LA may change into a title favourite, however issues can go south.
Not like the 76ers, the Clippers did not spend most of their pay cap on three gamers. Sure, Harden and Leonard will effectively exceed $35 million subsequent season, however Zubac, Beal, Paul, Lopez, Bogdan Bogdanović, Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn are all in inexpensive team-friendly offers.
The Clippers have one of many high medical workers within the league, so managing accidents will not be a continuing battle, nevertheless it’s not unattainable.
Plus, trusted gamers like Bogdanovic, Jones Jr., Dunn, Paul, and Nicolas Batum will come out of the bench. If any of the starters fall with an damage, the clipper has depth to make up for the loss.
Now, if Harden and Leonard miss out on greater than 30 video games, the Clippers may very well be in hassle, however there is a purpose to think about Los Angeles after efficiently managing Leonard’s well being final season.
