The Clippers hope to get Terance Mann back soon after he injured his finger a few weeks ago.
Although the Clippers are in sixth place in the very competitive Western Conference the season is still early. There are still 57 games left to play in the NBA regular season. There are currently 10 teams in the 15 team Western Conference with winning records.
The question regarding the Clippers is can they stay in the playoff hunt with the team that they currently have? The answer to that question is yes and no. Yes, if they can stay healthy and no if they can't stay healthy. Staying healthy is very important for teams at all levels of sports but in the case of the Clippers it's crucial.
The good news for the Clippers is star player Kawhi Leonard returned to the practice court for the first time this season last Tuesday. If he and fellow superstar James Harden can stay healthy the Clippers can make the playoffs. Also, if Norman Powell can continue to play at a high level the Clippers can be a very good team. Powell looks like the most improved player in the league. "He has always been that type of player," said head coach Tyronn Lue recently.
Powell is averaging 23.6 points per game which makes him the top scorer on the team ahead of Harden who is averaging 21.6 points per game. Harden also leads the team in assists, averaging 8.5 assists per game and he is pulling down 6.8 rebounds per game.
Another key player for the Clippers is Terance Mann. Unfortunately for Mann right after he played his best game of the year a few weeks ago he injured his finger and is currently out of the rotation.
Center Ivica Zubac continues to be one of the most consistent big men in the NBA. He averages 12.2 rebounds per game. The Clippers have a group of role players that can step up and have big games on any given night. Nicolas Batum, Derrick Jones Jr., Bones Hyland, Kevin Porter Jr., Kris Dunn, Amir Coffey and Jordan Miller are all players that can step up when needed.
If the Clippers want to contend for an NBA championship they will need another star player. Right now, they have three star players on the roster, Leonard, Harden and Powell that can help them make a run into the playoffs.
The Clippers also have another weapon. That's the Intuit Dome, their new multi-billion-dollar home stadium. "The fan support since game one has been really good," said Lue. "The fans are showing up and showing out. It's been good and the Wall is fantastic."
The Wall is a section in the Dome that is filled with fans jumping up and down and waving their arms to distract the visiting team. Those fans appear to give the Clippers extra energy.
Reader Comments(0)