Los Angeles Clippers

The 2019-2020 Los Angeles Clippers season can be defined by the fact that they blew a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets in the 2nd round of the playoffs. 

What did we learn?

The Clippers C H O K E D.

Some people don’t want to say it. Or they are afraid to say it. But it’s true.

It’s one thing to be up 3 games to 1 and then the better team finally gets going. But it’s another thing to have big leads in each of the elimination games and then melt away. And it’s another thing entirely to GIVE UP in a Game 7 which is precisely what the Clippers did. It was a complete and total embarrassment.

Team chemistry and locker room togetherness are soo imperative in the NBA. There is a reason why Bill Simmons magnum opus The Book of Basketball focuses on this being the secret to winning basketball.

As they often are in hindsight, the tea leaves were there. On January 4th, Trez straight up told us that the Clippers were not a great team. “We’re not a great team. That’s one thing that I think y’all need to get out y’all’s minds. We’re not a great team.” That was literally the quote. Then came The Athletic report a few weeks later about the Clippers chemistry issues and turmoil behind the scenes that were further brought to light after their shocking loss in the second round.

On January 24th, the day after The Athletic’s hit piece, Kawhi said in the immediate on-court post-game interview after a 5-point win over the Heat in Miami without Paul George: “I don’t even know the outside noise. I block it out. It doesn’t matter.” Well, it might not matter to Kawhi, but it sure matters to others. Kawhi’s reputation as a difficult teammate grows. (Can you imagine if this shit came out about LeBron? He would absolutely be roasted over the flames.)

Pat Bev and Paul George laughed at Dame for missing those free throws, but the world got the last laugh at the Clippers once again. The Clippers carried themselves like they had already won something and the fact remains that the franchise has still never made it to the Western Conference Finals.

Playoff P became Pandemic P or Wayoff P. Take your pick. Paul George said after losing Game 7 to the Nuggets that he didn’t view this season as a must-win. Now THAT is a big part of the problem. Channeling our inner Herm Edwards here, “You PLAY to WIN the GAME.” The Clippers were literally the title favorites and PG had previously said they were automatically Championship contenders. Turns out, they were just pretenders.

But let it fuel your fire and come back stronger than ever.

The Lakers (and Nuggets!) will be waiting.

_____________________________________

What are the answers to our Season Preview Final Questions?

How long will it take Paul George to fully recover from his shoulder surgeries?

PG missed the first 11 games of the season and another 8-game stretch in January.

What does Load Management look like for Kawhi in the 2019-2020 season?

Kawhi played 57 out of 72 total games. The Clippers posted a 41-16 record with The Board man in the lineup. The Clippers were 8-7 without him.

_____________________________________

Would our preseason Over/Under prediction have hit?

If the Clippers are smart, which we sure think they are, they will take the regular season with a grain of salt.

The Clippers should put all of their stock into their run through the West playoffs and quest for the franchise’s first Finals appearance and first Larry OB.  UNDER 54.5 wins. (66.4% winning pct)

Clippers 2019-2020 final record: (49-23)  68% winning pct

Our preseason Over/Under prediction would have been super close.  With 10 games left, the Clippers would have needed to win 6 of those games. 

_____________________________________

What’s Next?

• Doc is OUT. Ty Lue is IN. Is that really moving the needle?

• There is going to be even more noise now.

• The Clippers are at a crossroads and have to find the right playoff rotation of guys that can actually stay on the court.

• This team apparently still needs a leader or for Kawhi to step up in that regard.

• Trez is a free agent. We are of the mind that you have to keep the heart and soul of the 2018-2019 Clippers around even if Trez was ironically the one who ultimately cost Doc his job in the end.

_____________________________________

Favorite Clippers Highlight from the 2019-2020 Season:

KAWHI IN THE CLUTCH!

📺 @FoxSportsWest | @kawhileonard pic.twitter.com/SS8BlUGtll

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 25, 2020

Kawhi toying with Waiters. Fun Guy!

Toronto Raptors

The 2019-20 Toronto Raptors season can be defined by the fact that despite losing Kawhi, a 2nd-place finish in the Eastern Conference was replicated with an even better winning percentage than the year before.

What did we learn?

The Raptors ran it back!

Sans Kawhi, Masai Ujiri kept the vets on board and the Raptors did not miss a beat.

Kyle Lowry is still the leader of this team, the fire hydrant you can count on. But it was Pascal Siakam, the reigning Most Improved player, who really took his game up another level just as we advocated he would.

We were hooked when we heard that Siakam had taken over all of Kawhi’s old workouts and regimen. Then Spicy P began the season hotter than a ghost pepper. Siakam had his struggles in the bubble and playoffs, yes, but let’s not forget that three years ago he was a nobody, a WHO HE!? (It has also been reported that he did not leave his house for three months during quarantine.) And just two years ago, Siakam averaged 7.2 points per game compared to a staggering 22.9 points this season. Siakam was selected to his first All-Star Game and the beginning of his season was so good that he was seriously mentioned in the early early season MVP talks. It’s hard to remember a player getting this good this fast.

Fred VanVleet continued his stellar play from the 2019 Finals and is in line for a big, well-earned pay day next week. No stranger to the big moments, VanVleet is a tough and reliable hard-working player you want on your side.

The big un’s down low, Gasol and Ibaka are not given enough credit for being the prototypical big in today’s game: Capable of stretching the floor while also anchoring the defense. Speaking of defense, OG Anunoby was a stalwart on the wing, a switchable ace who also hit the biggest shot of the season for Toronto. We love Anunoby’s demeanor.

The Raptors dealt with numerous injuries to a plethora of players up and down the roster throughout the season but were a masterclass in WHO HE!?, finding players that we had never heard of before that turned out to be extremely productive. Undrafted Terence Davis. Chris Boucher from the G League. Both power dunkers we must add! (Side note: The TSN announcers had some of the best power dunk calls in the league, always a treat.)

Speaking of power dunkers and improvements, Norm Powell was somebody who continually impressed us more and more as the season went on. Powell had a breakout year, averaging 16.0 points per game, up from his previous career-high average of 8.6 points.

Nick Nurse was the well-deserved Coach of Year, a no brainer, really. So much of winning team basketball is the team that has players with well-defined roles best suited to their talents. That’s the Raptors, always prepared and calculated, understanding of what needs to be done. It also helps that everybody on the floor at all times can shoot the three and play defense. That’s a luxury that can continue and perhaps the Raptors will be a sleeping giant once more.

Hey, Masai. RUN IT BACK AGAIN!!!

_____________________________________

What are the answers to our Season Preview Final Questions?

Will Masai Ujiri actually bring back the super vets who are on their way to essentially becoming aging dinosaurs?  Or will Toronto get a maximum return for their assets (just like DeRozan) and start this reboot?  These questions are going to be even more difficult and interesting if Toronto is sitting at 3rd or 4th in the East.  

Masai Ujiri did not trade any of the vets and we urge him to bring them back again.

Has there ever been a reigning champion who was a sleeping giant?  And don’t forget about the Ewing Theory!

The 2019-20 Raptors were the reigning champion sleeping giant that we thought they could be!

_____________________________________

Would our preseason Over/Under prediction have hit?

RUN IT BACK!!!  OVER 46.5 wins.  (57% winning pct)

Raptors 2019-20 final record: (53-19)  74% winning pct

YES, our preseason Over/Under hit!  The Raptors achieved their 47th win in their first game in the bubble against the Lakers. 

_____________________________________

What’s Next?

• Figure out the direction of the franchise. You know how we feel. It seems like no matter what the Raptors are going to be super competitive.

• Is it even possible money-wise to be able to bring everybody back? We were told there would be no math.

• If Marc Gasol doesn’t return from Spain, the Raptors will be in the market for a big, preferably one who can shoot threes and defend. Preferably a big ole Spaniard.

• He did not play a lot this season, but Matt Thomas’s three-ball was as good as advertised: 47.5 percent, albeit on only 99 total attempts.

• Giannis Free Agency Summer 2021 looms.

_____________________________________

Favorite Raptors Highlight from the 2019-20 Season:

HIGHQUALITYCONTENT.MP4 pic.twitter.com/2fKtV00Ete

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 26, 2019