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Los Angeles Clippers Getting Rodney Dangerfield Treatment Before NBA Playoffs

By Andrew C. Fisher

Apr 7, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes (22) reacts after being called for a foul against the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Clippers won 105-100. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes (22) reacts after being called for a foul against the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Clippers won 105-100. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s time for the NBA’s second season to get underway. You know, the one where the players actually give 100 percent.

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All jokes aside, it’s true: the NBA playoffs are a ridiculously long marathon. It’s four rounds of potential seven-game series with 16 teams, well, more like about eight teams, vying for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

When it comes to this year’s title contenders, the Los Angeles Clippers are somewhat of a forgotten team. Despite putting together another impressive campaign in 2014-15, posting more than 50 wins for the third straight season, few are buzzing about a Clipper run in the playoffs.

Expectations just aren’t there. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

But why are the Clippers getting the Rodney Dangerfield treatment as they head into the postseason? (A.K.A. — no respect.)

For one thing, the Golden State Warriors are truly having a season for the ages and are deserving of all the national spotlight they’ve received. Stephen Curry is the frontrunner for MVP, Steve Kerr is the top candidate for Coach of the Year and the team as a whole has simply gone to the proverbial next level.

On top of the historically good season going on in Oakland, you have the usual talent cluster muck that is the Western Conference. The dangerous as heck defending champion San Antonio Spurs could end up as the No. 5 or 6 seed for crying out loud. From the top on down the West is loaded. With so many good clubs in the mix, it’s easy to overlook a team like Los Angeles that’s stuck near the middle.

More than anything else though, the Clippers are getting no respect at playoff time because of their track record. Let’s be honest, it’s far from great (as in, never really won anything).

As good as the Chris Paul era has been for L.A., its still yet to reach the conference finals with him running the show. The supporting cast obviously plays a huge part in any team’s fate, but facts are facts, CP3 has never made the conference finals in nine previous attempts.

It’s with that reality and the uncertain future of the Clippers’ Big Three that some people have started wondering if this is it for this core group of guys. If they can’t make real progress this season, maybe big changes are needed.

But all of that speculation can wait. For now, Doc Rivers’ team has a chance to earn the respect of NBA fans and the rest of the league with a couple of series wins.

The lack of expectations and attention certainly won’t hurt the feelings of any Clippers fans. It shouldn’t affect the players either. If anything, the lack of appreciation may work to motive them even more.

At this point past records and results don’t matter. The task at hand for the Los Angeles Clippers is crystal clear. Two series victories will silence their many doubters, earn the team the respect that Dangerfield never got and also shed light on what’s to come in the offseason.

Next: NBA: Who's Going To Win The No. 2 Seed In The West?

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