“Harden Seizes Championship, Embiid’s Tears Flow, Maxey’s Meteoric Rise, yet Clippers’ Domination Eclipses 76ers”
Harden’s journey to the championship has been tumultuous, but with the Western Conference playoff teams now determined, he finally stands on the brink of his first title triumph. The Clippers only need to accomplish these five steps for Harden to secure the trophy.
Step One: Contain Irving.
The Clippers’ first playoff opponent is the Mavericks, against whom they hold a significant advantage. The Mavericks’ strongest assets are Doncic and Irving.
Leonard has been resting since April 1st against the Hornets, providing him with ample energy for the playoffs. While Doncic is this season’s scoring leader, facing Leonard at his peak form poses a significant challenge.
With Doncic contained, Irving becomes the biggest variable in this series. If the Clippers can limit Irving, they are poised to win the series and advance to the next round.
Step Two: Avoid Facing the Lakers in the Second Round.
Currently, the Lakers have yet to secure a playoff spot and will face the Pelicans. However, it’s expected that the Lakers will prevail, meaning they will enter the playoffs as the seventh seed in the West, facing the Nuggets.
The Lakers’ strengths lie in Davis and James. Davis lacks an advantage against Jokic, and James’ age may pose stamina issues over a series, especially with the Nuggets enjoying home-court advantage. Thus, the Nuggets are likely to emerge victorious, ensuring the Clippers won’t face the Lakers.
Step Three: Defeat the Nuggets.
Offensively, the Clippers match up well against the Nuggets, making defense the key to victory for both teams.
With a well-rounded lineup, the Nuggets’ strongest tactic is the Jokic-Murray pick-and-roll. While Jokic may be difficult to contain, the Clippers can effectively shut down Murray. Without Murray’s offensive prowess, and with Gordon’s limited individual scoring ability and Porter Jr.’s inconsistent shooting, the Nuggets’ offensive firepower is significantly reduced, giving the Clippers an advantage to win the series and advance to the Western Conference Finals.
Step Four: Avoid Facing the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.
The Timberwolves’ lineup poses a significant challenge to the Clippers, particularly their formidable defense, especially in the paint. When facing them, scoring inside becomes challenging for the Clippers. Even if the Clippers were to prevail, it would likely be a hard-fought victory, potentially leaving them depleted for subsequent matchups.
Fortunately, the Timberwolves’ chances of reaching the Western Conference Finals are slim, as they’re set to face the Suns in the first round. The Suns, whose strength lies in perimeter shooting rather than inside scoring, play into the Timberwolves’ weaknesses, ensuring the Suns’ victory and smooth passage to the Western Conference Finals.
Step Five: Defeat the Suns.
Though the Suns boast a trio of stars, the Clippers have the capability to neutralize them, with Westbrook alone being able to challenge them. Supported by Harden, Leonard, and George, the Clippers can easily eliminate the Suns and advance to the NBA Finals.
With ample energy and regardless of which team emerges from the Eastern Conference, the Clippers have the ability to triumph, fulfilling the championship dreams of veterans Harden, George, and Westbrook.
