Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Vinny Del Negro has shown he can take an NBA team to the playoffs. Now he needs to prove he can take them farther than that.
The Los Angeles Clippers, under Del Negro’s coaching direction, had a successful season as the 56-26 record would indicate. They won their first divisional title and now are taking on the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs.
The Clippers have plenty of talent but it’s not going to be easy to slide through the NBA West, nor would it be easy if they get to the NBA Finals to meet the expected winner from the East, the Miami Heat.
But Del Negro could be in some trouble if he doesn’t have a good playoff showing. The consensus is that he could lose 4-0 to Memphis and still return, thanks to a fine regular season.
Del Negro started with the Chicago Bulls for the 2008-09 season and had back-to-back 41-41 records during the regular season. The Bulls lost in the first round of the playoffs both times. The Clippers picked him up and he struggled to a 32-50 record in the first season.
But the Clippers were an up-and-coming team with their young talent, and had a 40-26 record last season, winning a playoff round before losing in the conference semifinals.
That playoff performance last season gave Del Negro credence for finally having won an NBA playoff series. This season, the Chippers had a 17-game win streak and faltered a little bit late in the year when it appeared they could contend for the No. 1 spot in the NBA West.
Del Negro needs to show he can use his team’s talent to the fullest potential and win some tough NBA playoff series. It’s not an easy assignment but the Clippers expect him to carry it out, at least for one or two rounds.
