Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Clippers have one of the best point guards in the NBA in Chris Paul, a superstar power forward in Blake Griffin and an outstanding head coach in Doc Rivers. Without question, the Clippers have the talent and coaching to win a title now. However, Los Angeles has one of the weakest and smallest benches in the league. Until the Clippers upgrade their supporting cast to championship-contender status, Los Angeles will not be holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy anytime soon.
The Clippers’ supporting cast problems date back to last offseason when Rivers, who is also the president of basketball operations, failed to make any real improvements to the team’s depth off the bench. In addition, many of the complementary pieces Rivers brought in this season just didn’t work out. As a result, the Clippers were really only playing three guys off the bench when the playoffs rolled around.
Having and not having a strong supporting cast can be the difference between winning and not winning a championship. Look at almost any championship team, and you will see that it takes more than just a few great players to win a title. It takes role players who can come off the bench and step up to make big plays when teams need it most. It’s extremely uncommon to see a team contend for a championship, let alone win a championship, without a dependable second unit.
If Los Angeles had a strong supporting cast, the Clippers could very well have been the best team in the league this season. Without a great bench, the Clippers managed to snag the No. 3 seed in the tough Western Conference and secure home court in the first round of the playoffs. In their first round matchup against the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, a series few saw Los Angeles winning, the Clippers’ bench was put to shame by the Spurs’ illustrious second unit. By the looks of it, one would have believed San Antonio cruised through the series. However, the Clippers’ starters completely outplayed San Antonio’s first unit for much of the series and ultimately were the difference in advancing in seven games to the conference semifinals.
The Clippers’ luck was still running high through the first four games of their second-round series against the Houston Rockets, as the Clippers built up a 3-1 series lead and were just one win away from advancing to the conference finals. Los Angeles’ starters were outplaying Houston’s first unit and making the Rockets’ deep bench a non-factor in the series. However, the Clippers’ fortunes ran out as Los Angeles blew their 3-1 series lead and lost to the Rockets in seven games. Houston’s bench was eventually able to come alive and be the difference maker in the series, exposing Los Angeles’ weak supporting cast.
If the Clippers had a strong second unit, Los Angeles would be in conference finals against the Golden State Warriors. Now I’m not going to say the Clippers would have beaten the Warriors, but it sure would have been an outstanding series that probably would have went the full seven games. And not surprisingly, the Clippers would have had no problem beating any team from the East in the NBA Finals.
Needless to say, improving the bench is of utmost priority for Rivers this summer. Guard Jamal Crawford, arguably the Clippers’ best bench player this season (that’s not saying much), has a team option that Los Angeles must decide to exercise or not. Crawford’s offensive talent is limitless and provides a huge spark to the Clippers, but his frequent games of poor shooting and lackluster defense are a cause for concern.
Another huge decision this summer for the Clippers deals with big man DeAndre Jordan, who is also a free agent. Jordan is an outstanding defensive player and rim protector for the Clippers, and will be expecting nothing less than a max deal. However, his offensive game (and his free-throw shooting) needs serious improvement this offseason. Parting ways with Jordan would be huge blow to the Clippers’ defense and title hopes next season, so breaking the bank open to re-sign the big fella is definitely the way to go.
If the Clippers can improve their bench and keep Jordan in Lob City, the Clippers are most certainly a championship contender next season.
Patrick Ralph is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Pat_Ralph, like him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
