NBA: 6 Team blueprints that could be on the line in the playoffs

LA Clippers

It may not seem like it, but this is Kawhi Leonard and Paul George’s fourth season together with the LA Clippers (though Kawhi did miss all of the 2021-22 NBA season). Still, if the Clippers go through the playoffs and are subjected to another first or second-round playoff exit, it will only bring about questions about this team’s future.

The Clippers did make the conference finals two seasons ago, but that’s not what this duo was brought here to do. They were acquired by the team in an attempt to win a championship. And if four years have come and gone and all they have to show for it is one conference finals appearance, you can make that there will be a call for some offseason changes.

If the Clippers lose in the first round of the playoffs this season (which they will be expected to do as they will likely enter as a lower seed), there’s an argument to be made that perhaps this team has seen its championship window close.

I won’t go all the way to say that is the case right now but you have to wonder based on this team’s lack of injury luck and overall lack of consistent success. At the very least, it may be something that the team ponders during the offseason.