LA Clippers: 3 candidates for a breakout season in 2019-20

By Byron Jones | Sep 1, 2019

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 24: Montrezl Harrell #5 shakes hands with Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers during their game against the Golden State Warriors in Game Five of the first round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on April 24, 2019 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The LA Clippers have 3 key players returning that are poised and ready for a breakout year and deep playoff run in the upcoming 2019-20 NBA season.

The case can be made that no NBA team accomplished more with less All-Star talent last season than the LA Clippers. Finishing 48-34 in the regular season was good enough for an 8th seed playoff berth in the Western Conference that very few would have predicted. This was supposed to be a year to train up rookies, manage returning player’s development and prepare for an off-season bidding war for high-level free agents.

When you have a head coach who is used to getting the most out of his team and players motivated to prove their skeptics wrong, anything is possible. Coach Doc Rivers is second to none in terms of inspiring his team to believe and trust in each other. A prime example of River’s positive impact to the Clippers is the respect and admiration he receives from players and coaches alike across the NBA.

Now that overachieving is far from the primary goal at hand, the Clippers organization will rely on their new star-studded lineup to gel quickly under coach Rivers. You can’t find a better person in the NBA to see this task through in such a short period other than who LA currently has in place right now. I expect a new form of motivation from Rivers now that a bull’s eye has been placed firmly on the Clippers back.

All championship-winning NBA teams require talent, but the balance between stars and role players must be maintained effectively. Stars must trust role players to contribute when their number is called, and role players must rise to the occasion whenever the opportunity presents itself. Here are 3 such players ready to have a breakout year in the 2019-20 season.

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