Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Clippers have been the best team in the Western Conference so far during this 2012-13 National Basketball Association season. The Clippers will have to play without Chris Paul for a few games after getting injured and his loss will really show how good the team is. If Los Angeles can play at least close to their same ability without Paul in the lineup, the team becomes a true threat to winning the NBA championship this season.
The biggest factor in my opinion is what happens with Blake Griffin while Paul is out. Griffin and Paul have definitely developed a connection in Paul’s second season with the team and any loss could hurt the Clippers at least for the short term. It is obvious that the Clippers are a team that is going to make a deep run in the playoffs but careful attention will have to be given to Paul’s health. If Paul were to get hurt for a longer period of time at some point, the team likely crumbles.
I think that the Clippers must at least be a .500 team with Paul out and if they can do that, I would have them in the Western Conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. That would be a great series without any doubt and I’m not sure which team would even win that series. Right now though, it is time for the Clippers to show how tough they truly are without their point guard in the lineup. It will be a struggle for sure.
Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports or like his Facebook page.
