Hoops Habit
Fansided

Ranking Western Conference contenders after the trade deadline

By Ari Schwartz

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena on February 08, 2023 in Los Angeles, 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena on February 08, 2023 in Los Angeles, 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 14: (L-R) Mason Plumlee #44, Paul George #13, Eric Gordon #10, Kawhi Leonard #2 and Norman Powell #24 of the Los Angeles Clippers interact on the bench. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 14: (L-R) Mason Plumlee #44, Paul George #13, Eric Gordon #10, Kawhi Leonard #2 and Norman Powell #24 of the Los Angeles Clippers interact on the bench. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

5. Los Angeles Clippers

At best, the Clippers have two of the league’s premier two-way wings and a lot of depth, including deadline additions Bones Hyland, Eric Gordon, and Mason Plumlee. But how can we expect this team to make it out of the West when their core has failed for the last four seasons? Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have only played 106 regular season games together out of the 285 they were eligible for.

Even at full strength, LA has struggled in the playoffs. They blew a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets in the 2020 playoffs, and despite making it out in seven games, were forced to seven against the Dallas Mavericks in 2021, simply because of Luka Doncic’s dominance.

This, in addition to their lack of team chemistry due to injuries and Kawhi’s load management, along with the now-stacked Western Conference, has their chances looking bleak.

If the Clippers suffer a fourth playoff exit in four years, another fabled ” Superteam ” will have failed.