5. Los Angeles Clippers
Along with the Nuggets, the Los Angeles Clippers were also not expected to shine this late in the year. This is a team who just last year abandoned their star-powered big three of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan.
Yet even without their three cornerstones, the Clippers were able to prove the doubters wrong. This new-look Clippers lineup consists of a wide variety of serviceable players with no clear star above the rest which seems to have worked out for them and their system. Coach Doc Rivers has shown that it doesn’t matter if they have big name players or not, they can still make it in this league and, if put up against the right opponent, go far in the playoffs.
Players like Danilo Gallinari, Patrick Beverley, and Montrezl Harrell all understand their roles and purposes for this team which is really what brings the Clippers together and makes them work. If you have a group of well-balanced players like LA does that each understands what they bring to the team and execute on that, there’s no telling the potential this team has come next week.