Clippers Finish Outside Top Four Of Western Conference

Even though the Los Angeles Clippers are one of the favorites to once again contend for a championship, they will not finish as a Top-4 team in the Western Conference. The Lakers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Blazers, Suns and Warriors are all realistic teams who could finish in the Top-4 of the standings and all improved vastly this offseason. 

While many teams in the Western Conference improved this offseason, the Clippers trended in the opposite direction and did not do anything to improve their team. Signing Serge Ibaka instead of Montrezl Harrell is a downgrade at the center position and they did not add any significant depth behind their two star players in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. 

Given the fact that the Clippers will struggle to defend teams in the paint throughout the year and given the fact that they do not have a third reliable scoring option, they will struggle against some of the league ‘s better teams throughout the year. In a 72-game season, every loss hurts a team even more than it normally does and they could add up for the Clippers. 

For a team that had high championship aspirations a season ago and ultimately lost in the Western Conference Semifinals, you would think that they would do everything they could to improve their team but they did not. As a result, the Clippers will not finish as one of the top teams in the Western Conference during the regulars season.