Injures have denied the Clippers of deep postseason runs.
The run of the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA Playoffs has come to a bitter end after falling in Game 5 versus the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, 136-130. The Suns take the series 4-1 and are now advancing to the Western Conference semifinals.
The Clippers looked like a dangerous team coming into the series after stealing Game 1 from the Suns. However, prior to Game 3, alpha guy and two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard went down with a right knee sprain, causing him to miss the rest of the series after two spirited games that saw the Clippers go toe-to-toe against the powerhouse Suns.
An absent Leonard ultimately spelled the doom for the Clippers, who were already without eight-time NBA All-Star Paul George coming into the series.
Coach Tyronne Lue, despite the playoff exit, still found something positive.
“The encouraging thing with our team, with Kawhi and PG healthy we haven’t lost a series yet,” Lue said during the postgame press conference on Wednesday. “It's always in the back of your mind like what if, but it's just been our luck the last three years.”
Since taking over as coach of the Clippers, Lue has only had one series, the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks, where both Kawhi and PG were healthy all series long. They won that in seven games. The duo did manage to also win a series the year prior, but that was under former coach Doc Rivers.
Aside from 2021, Lue's tenure has seen one or both superstars going down with some form of injury.
That’s why he is having none of those complaining about the Clippers failing in the postseason.
"Our two best players [were injured]. What else?" Lue asked.
"Take Steph [Curry] and Klay [Thompson] off the Warriors. Take [Kevin Durant] and [Devin Booker] off this [Suns] team. Take your 2 best players off any team in the playoffs and see if they can win,” said the 45-year-old tactician.
With Kawhi and PG gone, it was Russell Westbrook who stepped up for the team in the series, earning the praise of Lue and the rest of the coaching staff.
Westbrook finished the series versus the Suns averaging 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists.
“Bringing Russ here really saved our season. As far as making the playoffs and this run we had. Hats off to Russ for bringing it every single night,” said Lue.
Lue also mentioned that he wishes to see Westbrook back with the team next year, but he also hopes his performance with the Clippers gives him an opportunity to get more money.
A lot of questions must be answered for the Clippers this coming offseason, all of which should be answered soon enough.