NBA Playoffs 2017: 5 players facing the most pressure

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October 31, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) speaks with guard Chris Paul (3) during a stoppage in play against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin — Los Angeles Clippers

Bypassing my own rules a bit and including two players, the pressure is again high when it comes to the Los Angeles Clippers duo of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Despite having won 53 or more games in each of the four seasons prior to this year, the duo (along with DeAndre Jordan) has yet to make it past the Western Conference Semifinals in the playoffs. And that look was worsened last year with a first-round exit at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Obviously the expectations have always been there for Paul and Griffin since they joined forces with the Clippers. So the fact that they’ve had marginal (if any, really) postseason success is damning to a degree. However, the stakes are now higher than they’ve ever been given the fact that the organization now has decisions to make regarding their future with the franchise.

Griffin will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Meanwhile, Paul has an early-termination option on his deal. Given the still-rising salary cap and the fact that he’s 31 years old, it’s expected that he’ll exercise that option and become a free agent himself to cash in on one more lucrative deal.

Why this all matters is that the Clippers, in essence, have to decide whether or not continuing forward with this Big Three of Griffin, Paul and Jordan is worthwhile or if they should reconstruct. Though they enter the playoffs as the No. 4 seed given their struggles due to injuries this season, that makes a strong playoff performance is necessary from both Paul and Griffin. If they fall victim to another premature exit, they could be playing somewhere other than LA in 2017-18.