LA Clippers: A first championship would mean the world for this team

The Clippers: A dismal franchise risen from the ashes

In the past, the Clippers weren’t thought of as being a contender and now they are one of the best teams in the league year in and year out.

The Lakers used to rule Los Angeles but in recent years it’s been the Clippers who have dominated the city. The road to the Finals will almost certainly mean a Lakers-Clippers matchup in the Western Conference Finals.

Paul George will be the deciding factor for the Clippers on the journey that they are about to embark on. If George can play like the Eastern Conference Finals Paul George when he was with the Indiana Pacers then the Clippers will be able to get past the Lakers.

Paul George on the potential matchup between the Lakers:

"“You have two L.A. teams that can potentially win it all, and I think we both respect that,” George said. “I think the Lakers respect that, and we as Clippers respect that, that they are a team that we’re possibly going to have to go through to win a championship.”"

The LA Clippers and George are the same. This will be the franchise’s first championship and it will be George’s first championship. George has seen success before but hasn’t quite been able to get over the hump just like the Clippers. A championship means a lot for the franchise but it also means a lot to certain players who haven’t been able to ever get there.

Paul George on potentially winning a championship:

"“I’m extremely confident,” George said. “I feel we have the roster, we have the coach, we have the owner, we’ve got the city. I’m extremely confident in what we can do. I feel amazing from a personal standpoint. My body is back 100, I’m healthy, the team is only getting healthier, and we got championship DNA from our coaching staff to our roster. Championship DNA within our locker room and within our building. We know what it takes, and we’re excited to get it going.”"

The LA Clippers are one of the favorites to win the title this year. A championship will change the way the franchise’s perceived. The Clippers laid the seed of the eventual rise of the franchise 10 years ago. A championship in these games will start the team’s future of finally becoming relevant.