The Los Angeles Clippers hadone of the biggest choke jobs in NBA history. Theyblew a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Semifinals to the Denver Nuggets despite being perhaps the most overpowered team.
Los Angeles signed Kawhi Leonard this summer and traded multiple assets and Draft capital to the Oklahoma City Thunder in return for Paul George, and it looked like they were poised to make ā at least ā the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
However, they put together dud after dud in the final three games of the series, blowing double-digit leads in all games and looking worn out and exhausted in the fourth quarter over and over. In fact, Leonard and George didnāt even score in the final 12 minutes of Game 7.
Kevin Durant Says The Clippers Werenāt On The Same Page On Defense:
Even so, according to Brooklyn Netsā star Kevin Durant, the reason why the Clippers choked to the Denver Nuggets wasnāt George and Kawhi struggling from the field but the fact that they just werenāt on the same page on the defensive end of the floor:
āTo see them lose like that, it was definitely shocking. They had the most talent. They [were] the deepest team in the NBA top-to-bottom. The Clippers werenāt on the same page on defense all series. Thatās why they lost,ā Durant said on The Joe Budden Podcast.
The Clippers just couldnāt stay together and really develop their defensive chemistry all season. Injuries, absences for personal reasons, and even a chicken wing-related incident prevented them from fulfilling their potential.
Then again, that should have been a problem all season long but it only showed up until the second round of the playoffs. While it could make sense and Durant may have a valid point, thatās still a massive choke.
