Clippers' Outlook for the Season: Talent vs. Availability
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00:00 [MUSIC]
00:03 Now as we go to the LA Clippers, 30 and 15,
00:06 fourth best record in the Western Conference.
00:09 We have shared again 22 and five since the end of November.
00:14 And one of those five losses came yesterday in what both Donnie and
00:17 I considered a tough spot for LA.
00:20 On the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers,
00:23 the line was working against LA all morning, afternoon long.
00:26 It closes only a one, one and a half point spread in favor of the Clippers.
00:30 It was three and a half when we started speaking here on the early line yesterday.
00:34 And the Cavs are playing really good basketball as well.
00:37 Cleveland now has won ten of their last 11 games.
00:41 They were victorious last night at home, 118-108.
00:45 So even with that, the Clippers are still 15 games above 500.
00:50 LA has still won 22 of its last 27 games.
00:55 Yesterday on the show, James Young said he predicts and
00:59 picks the LA Clippers to win the Western Conference crown.
01:02 What do you think the outlook is, Donnie, for the Clips this season?
01:07 >> Here's the tough thing, because if we're going for trends, right, where again,
01:10 shouldn't really play into this season, different players,
01:13 different season as it goes into it.
01:14 We know the Clippers don't show up in the playoffs.
01:16 And it's not to say, Ben, that they don't play well when they get to the playoffs.
01:19 Their players just aren't available in the playoffs.
01:21 You tell me right now, James Harden's healthy.
01:23 You tell me right now, Kawhi Leonard and also Paul George are ready to go,
01:26 game number one in the playoffs, and they're gonna have a healthy run.
01:29 Let's forget about if they even win the NBA championship.
01:31 Just give me those players on the court throughout the entirety of the playoff
01:34 run, if it's one round or goes right to the finals.
01:36 I actually really like their chances, but it feels the same way you can mirror them
01:40 with an Eastern Conference team, the Philadelphia 76ers.
01:43 Whether it's the 1C, the 4C, or the 5C, it doesn't matter.
01:46 When they get to the playoffs, Joel Embiid is either sick for a game, or
01:49 his knee injury flares up, or he breaks a bone in his face at that point.
01:53 Things always creep up poorly for the Sixers and the Clippers here.
01:56 If you wanna remove that from the equation and just look at the Clippers,
01:59 and next week is the trade deadline, if they fortify that team anymore,
02:02 why can't they win a championship?
02:04 But I just can't get out of my head, you're taking the Clippers, and
02:07 in round number two you go, look at this.
02:09 Kawhi's knee flared up, and Paul George is nowhere to be found in some COVID
02:12 protocols at this point.
02:13 It's hard to get over that.
02:15 Talent-wise, they can win it, but for my money,
02:17 I don't think I can take the Clippers here.
02:19 (upbeat music)
02:21 (upbeat music)