The Los Angeles Clippers sit fifth in the Western Conference Playoff race, but they are preparing to make a run in the Western Conference playoffs. Blake Griffin is back in the fold and healthy, DeAndre Jordan leads the league in rebounds, 14.8 per game and field goal percentage, 70.6%, and Chris Paul is at the top of the NBA in assists, 10.2 assists per game. Also, in terms of expected win-loss record, the Clippers sit second in the NBA with a projected 55-23 record.
Those are impressive statistics, but there are six 50 win teams in the Western Conference and that does not even account for the Dallas Mavericks’ veteran team or the singular efforts of Russell Westbrook’s Oklahoma City Thunder or Anthony Davis’ New Orleans Pelicians. The 2015 Western Conference playoffs will be tight, but the Clippers could end up representing the Western Conference in the NBA Finals.
There are a myriad of ways that everything could go wrong for the Clippers, mainly that LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers severely outplay the Clippers’ big men and Chris Paul, ending the Clippers season, but the blue print is there for success. The Blazers have an outstanding tandem in Aldridge and Lillard, but they are not very deep beyond that, especially since Wesley Matthews went down with a torn left Achilles. Aldridge, who averages 23.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, also has an injury history and has a thumb injury currently. Damian Lillard saved the Trail Blazers in their first round playoff series with the Rockets last season, but may not be enough in the series with the Clippers. The Clippers are also 3-1 against the Trail Blazers this season and the Blazers are only 19-19 on the road.
The weak answer to the Clippers advancing to the Western Conference finals would be that the eight seed beats the Golden State Warriors and the Clippers overmatch that team; that is not the route that is very likely though. If the Clippers were to face the Warriors, they would be playing a team that they are 1-3 against this season and one that is on pace for 67 wins with potential NBA MVP Stephen Curry. For the Clippers to beat the Warriors, they would need to dominate the interior. In three of the four matchups this season, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin have not both had a double-double; not so surprisingly, the Clippers won the matchup where Jordan and Griffin were both in double digits in rebounds and points. The Chris Paul-Stephen Curry matchup is the headline matchup and JJ Redick could neutralize the Warriors’ elite three point shooting with some three pointers of himself, but the Clippers have a distinct advantage with their big men and they would need to make the most of it to beat the NBA’s best team.
The Clippers may have their toughest matchup in the Western Conference Finals if they are met by the Houston Rockets. Although the Rockets do not have a true point guard and are out playing their expected win-loss record by six wins, as their record is 53-24 and their expected record is 47-30, but James Harden is an MVP candidate and former Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard is slowly getting back onto the court. Howard was out since January 23rd, but returned on March 25th and had 22 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes on April 5th. The Rockets also have seven other players average 10 or more points per game on top of the NBA’s leading scorer in James Harden, who averages 27.7 points per game. The Clippers would need to slow down the pace of the game, where having a true point guard like Chris Paul would help, and work to stretch the Rockets front court depth beyond the wounded Dwight Howard. The Clippers are 2-2 against the Rockets this season, with two wins by a margin of 32 and two losses with a margin of seven.