Predicting Clippers’ file after 2024-25 season schedule launch
The 2024-25 season marks a brand new starting for the Los Angeles Clippers franchise. Gone are the times the place they’re sharing a house with the big-brother workforce within the metropolis, the Los Angeles Lakers. They now have their very own stomping grounds, with Intuit Dome set to welcome a new-look Clippers workforce that is seeking to transfer previous a really disappointing period of hoops.
The 213 Period for the Clippers has come and gone, and it has borne little in the way in which of fruits. Nonetheless, as vital as it’s typically to say goodbye for the long-term well being of the franchise, there are troublesome penalties within the short-term that might be plaguing the Clippers. They’re a worse workforce than final season, no questions requested, following the departure of Paul George for the Philadelphia 76ers by way of free company.
The Western Convention didn’t get any simpler. The Memphis Grizzlies seem like again at full power, the Houston Rockets are on an upward trajectory, the Golden State Warriors added a ton of depth, and that is solely speaking about a number of the groups that missed the postseason final 12 months however are more likely to make a push for the playoffs this 12 months.
In the meantime, the Clippers’ two stars are solely getting older. James Harden remodeled the Clippers final season and was their greatest participant within the playoffs, however he is already 35 years previous and has proven apparent indicators of decline. Furthermore, Kawhi Leonard’s well being was not in a position to maintain up for a whole season, as he was a shell of himself in his transient cameo through the Clippers’ short-lived 2024 playoff run.
An damage to Harden or Leonard can be dying to the Clippers’ playoff hopes. Other than Harden, Leonard, and Norman Powell, who else might the workforce depend on to constantly create offense for the workforce?
Clippers followers could also be in for a impolite awakening subsequent season, particularly contemplating the troublesome schedule they’ve to start the 12 months.
The primary few weeks of the season might be essential
This isn’t to say that the first 10 or so video games for the Clippers are already make-or-break almost about their hopes of creating it to the playoffs. However there’s a good probability that the Clippers begin off the season with a 3-7 or 2-8 file, which could imply dying given how aggressive the Western Convention is.
Their first three video games might be coming in opposition to the Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, and Golden State Warriors. They need to be the underdog for all of these video games. Following a little bit of a breather in opposition to the Portland Path Blazers, they are going to be going through the Suns, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, and Sacramento Kings — all troublesome opponents, together with the primary sport of Paul George at Intuit Dome. Their 10-game stretch to start the 12 months will then finish with a house sport in opposition to the Toronto Raptors.
In these 10 video games, they may be the favourite to win in simply three of them (Blazers, Spurs, Raptors). They merely might not have sufficient offensive firepower to maintain up with the opposite groups on a constant foundation. They’ll want herculean efforts from Kawhi Leonard and James Harden evening after evening, and given their damage historical past and age, respectively, which may be too massive of an ask.
There are merely only a few matchups out within the West whereby the Clippers ought to be thought-about the favourite on a given evening. There appears to be an excellent sense of confusion as to simply how impactful the lack of George is for the workforce, particularly throughout an extended common season grind wherein Leonard is nearly assured to overlook a bit of time as a result of damage woes.
Mark these dates in your calendars, Clippers followers
On November 7, the Clippers might be internet hosting Paul George and the 76ers at Intuit Dome in what is going to absolutely be a hostile crowd. 19 days later, they are going to be headed to Beantown for his or her first matchup of the season in opposition to the reigning champion Boston Celtics.
Their first contest of the 12 months in opposition to Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks will come all the way in which on December 20; that might be an away sport, and the Clippers, of all groups, know the way loud the gang at American Airways Heart will be.
However maybe essentially the most anticipated matchup for Clippers followers, as at all times, is the tussle in opposition to crosstown rival Lakers. Their first assembly of the marketing campaign might be held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 20, 2025), and it’s Intuit Dome that might be internet hosting this sport.
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Can LA keep their playoff spot within the loaded West?
Final season, the Clippers completed fourth within the convention with a 51-31 file. It feels secure to wager that they will not hit that variety of wins subsequent season. They continue to be a well-coached workforce with stable defenders up and down the roster, however offense could also be the issue. Exterior of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, they do not have a dependable supply of shot-creation each for one’s self and for others.
Norman Powell can create a ton of buckets on his personal, and Kevin Porter Jr. may very well be a dependable supply of playmaking, however counting on both to absorb a ton of duty on offense would not really feel like a dependable recipe for fulfillment.
There might be nights when the Clippers hearth on all cylinders, with Harden and Leonard clicking and the function gamers hitting their photographs. However function gamers are function gamers for a purpose, as their shot tends to be extra inconsistent in comparison with those that assume famous person duties for the workforce. However their roster development at current also needs to depart them weak to loads of woeful offensive nights, particularly when Harden walks the ball up the court docket and the offense takes time to provoke.
It should boil right down to how they carry out in opposition to groups inside their division. That they had the Suns’ quantity final season, they’ve had the Lakers’ quantity over the previous decade or so, whereas there’s nothing a lot that separates them from the Kings and Warriors. The Clippers have surpassed expectations up to now, but it surely’s greatest to be very cautious in projecting how excessive they end within the loaded West.
