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 – at least – 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 didn’t even score in the final 12 minutes of Game 7.
Kevin Durant Says The Clippers Weren’t On The Same Page On Defense:
Even so, according to Brooklyn Nets’ star Kevin Durant, the reason why the Clippers choked to the Denver Nuggets wasn’t George and Kawhi struggling from the field but the fact that they just weren’t on the same page on the defensive end of the floor:
“To 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 weren’t on the same page on defense all series. That’s why they lost,” Durant said on The Joe Budden Podcast.
The Clippers just couldn’t 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, that’s still a massive choke.
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