Los Angeles Clippers: 5 keys to making the playoffs in 2017-18

1. Injury luck

While it is normally unfair to put luck down as a playoff factor, it is, unfortunately, a bigger issue for the Clippers than any of the other borderline playoff teams in the Western Conference.

Blake Griffin’s injury concerns have been overstated in the past, and his statement on Media Day is a huge relief for all Clippers fans. However, any extended absence from Griffin would instantly sink this team’s playoff chances.

Danilo Gallinari, on the other hand, is a far larger injury concern. He missed 19 games last year due to injury — his fewest since 2012-13. In the four years following his ACL tear near the end of the 2012-13 campaign, he’s missed 82, 23, 29 and 19 games.

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The Clippers have a deep enough backcourt to withstand any injuries there. However, any injury to their three key frontcourt players would ruin their playoff hopes. The team has enough talent to weather minor injury concerns, but anything more than that would end its playoff hopes.