NBA 2018-19 Playoff Chances: Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers are undoubtedly the better team in the Los Angeles area. They have been performing much better than anyone had expected to do so and have even outplayed the Lakers who were destined to up their game with the incoming of LeBron James.

The Clippers are currently shuffling between the sixth and the eighth positions in the western conference and have the potential to still move significantly upwards.

They have been giving in a constant good performance, and without a big box-office star, the team dynamic is extremely important.

With the Western Conference seeding changing at a much more dynamic rate than the Eastern one, they have just above two dozen games to really set their place in stone.

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#1 What's Been Going Well

The LA Clippers in a game against the LA Lakers in early 2019. Here the Clippers officially won more games than the Lakers in this face off

The Clippers have been somewhat an underdog team at all times. Even when they were at the top of their game they have always been in the shadow of the star-studded Lakers. This season it is the time for them to make sure that their talents really shine through.

One of the best, game-winning aspects has been that of their team coordination. With no real homegrown star to lead the team, each person has finally learned how to work together to bring their offense hard to beat.

They have been together long enough to be able to do what is best for the team and ensure that they create game-winning plays.

For example, in their last game against the Lakers they not only held back the other team but also created opportunities for assists and minimized turnovers. Team coordination is what the need to keep up to make their way into the NBA Playoffs.

#2 What's Been Going Wrong

The LA Clippers finally have their shooting in place, but there are things that still need major improvement

Defense is an issue currently an issue with the Clippers. While in recent times they have been able to hold down teams so that they win, they have not been able to push down scoring to the double digits.

Now there was a time and place when the Clippers used to be able to fall back on their defenses to help them get the job done, now that time has passed.

Players like Beverley are getting into the habit of irritating and aggravating the other team, and while this may be temporarily effective it is a horrible long-term measure.

The Clippers have understood that the league works in favor of the shooters and players that have more ball time, but they seem to have forgotten that as a part of the changed format the league also is willing to spend more time on fouls and making sure gameplay is fairer.

The Clippers need to ensure that their team sees the importance of being strong whether the ball is in their hands or not.

#3 Looking Ahead, What The Clipper's Need to Do

It has been a long time since the Clippers have been able to perform in the playoffs, but they have a large chance of doing well this year

Positives and negatives put aside, the Los Angeles Clippers are definitely on the road to being a part of the Playoffs. They have potential, team spirit and most of all skill. Here is a plan of what they should be doing to keep up this streak in the long run.

Firstly, they should keep up with the unbelievable front office job they are doing. They are a confident, anti-leak, work and team driven group of people who know how to put things into the right light.

Next, the Clippers should keep up their ability to adapt. They first began changing gameplay because they were forced to, now they have made it a part of their everyday. This needs to stay.

Finally, the Clippers need to stop worrying about LeBron. It is the only city that is represented by two teams, but currently, though he's playing well, the Lakers make LeBron look like a fish out of the water.

The comparison between these two will never stop and it seems to have gotten to them in the past, but should never bring them down again.