Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are saying all the right things.
Facing the media on Friday, Leonard said he was eager to erase last season’s playoff collapse from his memory banks.
“I am motivated. I want to start, I want to get back after it,” he said. “It does leave a bad taste in your mouth blowing a 3-1 lead. But I love it. These are things that build the player. It’s the things that I like, the challenge. The road of going to a championship is hard. I love the process.”
George said he’s so happy in Los Angeles that he wants to retire as a Clipper.
It all sounds good but both stars have options in their contracts to become unrestricted free agents next summer if they wish to leave.
The biggest change since the Clippers fell apart against the Nuggets in the conference semifinals comes on the sidelines. Former Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue has replaced Doc Rivers, looking to deliver a championship to another franchise that hasn’t tasted that kind of success.
The Clippers have made two significant additions to the player roster in proven playoff performer Serge Ibaka and sharpshooter wing Luke Kennard. They were also able to re-sign another key frontcourt piece, Marcus Morris.
That brings us to our question of the day: Did the Clippers do enough this offseason to win a championship? Or are they destined for more disappointment in the postseason?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.
California have only won 6 of last 12 Championships.
Clippers are the problem of California.
Steve Balmer, please don’t become problem of California next 12 years..
And how long will it be until another team from California wins another championship? Blame the Kings too, not just the Clippers.
The kings arent delusional to think they will win it all. The clippers are. No need to blame the Kings
How are they delusional exactly?
At this time year ago, almost everyone thought that the Clippers were the best team in the NBA.
I think delusional people identify with delusional people.
They were delusional because they thought they could beat a healthy lebron.
next year. dodgers and lakers both can repeat
As a Raptors fan, watching Kawhi and the Clippers blow a 3-1 lead in humiliating fashion was almost as good as my own team winning the championship.
I’m a Raptors fan, and as much as I loved the win, I know if they had full health KD and boogie, heck even of Klay didnt get hurt they most likely would have lost. Kawhi gets too much credit. Lowry, Ibaka, Siakam, Gasol…they were the heart and soul. Kawhi played good but his lucky bounce on the sixers is what people will remember. And I was stoked AF at that shot, but a spade is a spade, and that was a lucky bounce.
Count your blessings, you guys simply dont come close to sniffing a championship if it weren’t for Kawhi..
Plain and simple
He also travelled on that play, but that kind of stuff happens often. It was certainly very lucky, and there is no way the Warriors lose that series without out Thompson’s freak injury, (he was owning that game until then, btw), but these things happen. Personally, I really wanted the Warrriors to lose and it took some crazy luck to make that happen.
They beat the teams in front of them and won the title. Injuries have influenced virtually every championship to some degree. In 30 years people won’t remember the circumstances in which they won, only that they were the champs.
So you hate the man who singlehandedly gave you a ring?? Raptors fans doing it wrong, some class, please….
Where did I say I hated him? I appreciate what he did for the Raptors, but why would I cheer for him to succeed after choosing to leave my team? Also the fact that the Raptors were still so good last year and the Clippers failed in the playoffs suggest he didn’t “singlehandedly” give the Raptors a ring.
I think they will dominate the regular season but lose in the second rd again ! Only trustworthy player they have is Kawhi and a lol big of Sergio ( serge ) ibaka! The morris twin ,bev, Lou and playoff pee will let the team and clippers fans down though !
I predict Clippers win 3 Championships next 12 years
Warriors 2
Lakers 2
Nostradamus you are not.
7 of the next 12? That’s insane, you’re not even close. Maybe one, two at the most.
And most likely all Lakers, unless Steve Kerr can become Bill Belechick and utilize Andrew Wiggins like he’s Terrell Owen’s or Randy Moss.
For the record I think the Warriors coaching staff is capable of harnessing the skills Wiggins literally has and helping him shed his immaturity and ego, its embarrassing watching people hype up Oubre over Wig. Wiggins is gonna do good. Most likely be steph, wig, oubre, dray and hopefully wiseman anyway.
They were very close to the Western Conference Finals last year. Yes, George was not at his best in the playoffs, but in reality the guy just had a bad stretch. Everyone has bad stretches. His just came in the the biggest spotlight. The Clippers are as much a championship contender as they ever were. I mean, Kawhi Leonard didn’t just forget how to play hoops or anything.
George always seem to come up empty when the spotlight is brightest.. he is a complete tool and glad lakers never got him..
Yeah it was much better for the Lakers to be among the worst teams in the league for 6-7 years before LeBron took pity on them.
You mean after the Lakers repeated 3 times, spanning a three-peat and then back-to-back championships? Hell, the Spurs were impressive, but they couldn’t even repeat once.
How embarrassing for the Lakers organization!
Yeah they were great in the 80s too, but I was talking about the 6-7 years before LeBron came. So THAT is what I mean.
Pity, or opportunity to raise up one of the top 5 greatest organizations in all of sports from the bottom to the top?
Only you can answer that one for yourself honestly-
I have seen many reports which indicate that George is not liked by his teammates, as well, and none that are positive…so he has that going for him.
Kawaii didn’t forget how to play but he got a wake up call that he isn’t the top player. He may not even be top 2 in LA
Kauai isn’t top 2 is LA. He’s young and on load management. Also looks like he could start crying at any moment.
Is this season the one where Balki tries to get Cousin Larry out of a classic Clippers jam? ‘Get out of the city!”
Clippers needed to resolve their PG issue and they did not. Possibly other GMs did not want to help them. Maybe losing Harrell would help, but he went to the Lakers! (clever, Pelinka.) But it will take more than that to keep them all from clashing.
1) Lou/Pat, Jackson, 2) George, Kennard, 3) Kawhi, Batum, 4) Marcus, Patterson, 5) Zubac, Ibaka, Oturo
This looks thinner than last year. Solo-type players all over.
Yes, a more traditional, facilitating PG is what the CLIPS badly need.
Somewhat surprising that no one came to get Ballmer’s money and play for a possible contender.
Reggie was always a big gamble at PG, as he’s a scoring PG, very steaky one at that. I’ve long considered Pat Beverley as a specialist, not a natural PG also.
I thought the CLIPS would make a play for someone like Augustin or even Rondo.
Clippers aren’t serious.
They are seriously full of something…and it doesn’t smell good…
Jackson has never been the same since he was hurt. If he can just give 20-25 smart mins at PG. It would help a lot. Clippers could also use Dedmond. Don’t why he’s not signed yet. Warriors, Celtics, Heat could all use a backup rim protector. If I was Clippers I would try and get Allen for Lou from Nets. Clippers did blow it last yr. That Lakers vs Clippers gm coming up should be fun. They need to make a statement
Funny how everyone says they need to address the PG problem without calling Paul George out specifically.
Zing!
I listed George at the 2 above but looking at Bas.Ref’s charts, he doesn’t play there ever. He goes to the 4 which may be part of his problem— he’s not a natural 4! But in the playoffs he was always messing up around the middle of the 3pt line.
Key point, the two stars play the same position.
And Harrell won’t be there to balance the scoring. I’m not seeing inside scoring.
I call George out often, but I always get the machine…”Believe it or not, George isn’t at home. Where could he be? I must be out or I’d pick up the phone. Where could I be? Believe it or not, I’m not home.”
Clippers to underachieve again, Choker P has spread that disease even to Kawhi…
Well I dont see them winning so disappoint will be the theme.
Do the Clippers double down on a bad decision and lock these guys up for max deals Age 31-36 and 32-37?
If they both want to reup for LT deals this team won’t be doing much of anything esp with their injuries and lack of draft picks.
So called “Superstars” has no right to have an off-night or any others excuses! That is why they are paid the big salaries!
The Clippers will neer win with PG13 (Playoff Ghost)13 on board.
Lebron James not Ty Lue coached the cavs to a championship. Clippers will never win with Ty Lue as a coach
PG is a choker. He is cancer in locker room. Screwy Lue is not the answer. Trade pg for harden….better chance to win championship. PG or KL won’t leave on their own…they want to be in LA. KL might leave if he figures out that PG is the problem….he will go to Lakers.
They had a poor off season. But they still have two of the top 10 players in the game, and enough other talent to win a championship. Even without roster upgrades, they’re a stronger team going into this season than last (when many made them the favorite). Things almost have to go better this time.
As a Lakers fan who does not care for the Clippers I certainly hope that they (the Clippers) do not win a title this year. That would make for a very interesting off-season for them and their 2 uncommitted super-stars. I appreciate the words of C-Daddy, and agree- when the Clippers lost to the Nuggets it was already a pretty good season for me knowing that the Lakers were going farther than they were. Anything else was gravy. Especially after all the grief that they had given us the previous several years before LeBron came to town. GO LAKERS!