Fansided

NBA Playoffs: Clippers are now the favorites to win the NBA Finals

By Luke Dahlgren

May 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers bench players celebrate after guard Chris Paul (3) made a basket with one second remaining in the fourth quarter of game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. Clippers won 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers bench players celebrate after guard Chris Paul (3) made a basket with one second remaining in the fourth quarter of game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at Staples Center. Clippers won 111-109. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Following the team’s commanding 128-95 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 4 of their series, the Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as the favorites to win the NBA Finals.

When the playoffs started, a common narrative was that the Los Angeles Clippers seemed doomed for an early playoff exit against the scorching defending champion San Antonio Spurs. One dramatic seven game series and three demonstrative blowouts later, and the Clips are the favorites to win it all.

According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, the Clippers have vaulted everyone to emerge as the frontrunner to win the NBA Finals.

The Clippers have dominated in their series against the Rockets, winning Sunday 128-95 despite the Rockets attempts to remove DeAndre Jordan’s arms. Jordan responded by causing a sonic hiccup with an uncontested alley-oop in a play that can serve as a representation for the series up to this point.

Blake Griffin has been efficient and varied in his offensive game operating as a point forward, while the return of Chris Paul has improved the team’s ball movement. Meanwhile, the Rockets have played lethargically and haven’t been able to play off their opponent’s mistakes like they did in the regular season.

So, should the Clippers be considered the favorites to win the Finals right now?

What remains to be seen is how the Golden State Warriors do against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizz have matched up well with the Warriors so far in these playoffs, putting pressure on their perimeter shooters and forcing the team to go big to stop the tandem of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Memphis leads the series 2-1, and the Warriors have struggled against them all season long.

If the Warriors can outlast them in a series, then they can challenge the Clippers with their depth. Los Angeles wouldn’t necessarily be the underdog in that series, but they would be challenged to the point where they can’t be considered favorites either.

Even though the Grizzlies have been playing well against the Warriors, the Clippers have to be rooting for the Grizzlies to win the series. Both teams will operate mostly out of half court sets rather than trying hard to push the pace, and that is right in the Clippers comfort zone.

Regardless, whoever emerges from the West (possibly excepting the Rockets) will make the East’s representative look silly.

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