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5 reasons the Los Angeles Clippers can win the NBA Championship

By Chris Barnewall

Nov 16, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) walk back to the bench for a time out in the second half of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center. Grizzlies won 111-107. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) walk back to the bench for a time out in the second half of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center. Grizzlies won 111-107. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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The championship window is closing for the Los Angeles Clippers. Is this year they finally leap through?

The Clippers are a great basketball team. They’ve always been a great basketball team. Ever since trading for Chris Paul, they’ve consistently finished in the top half of the brutal Western Conference. Their defense has been stout. Their offense is thoroughly entertaining. Yet, despite all of the success from Los Angeles, they’re also disappointing. They’ve never reached the Conference Finals. They consistently leave viewers wanting more, and their reputation for complaining to the refs leave little sympathy among fans.

All of that said, to say the Clippers have no chance at all to make a run to the Finals would be disingenuous. They’re a 50-win team with one of the top offenses in the NBA. They’re going into the playoffs fully healthy and playing their best basketball of the year. Is the path in front of them going to be difficult? Of course, but the path to the finals will always be difficult. Maybe this is the year for them. Here are five reasons why it could be.

5. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are still incredible

Talent wins championships in the NBA and the Clippers starting lineup is absolutely stacked with it. Chris Paul might be getting up there in age, but he is still one of the best point guards in the NBA. He’s often criticized for not being willing to take over the game, but that has to do with his desire to micromanage as much as possible like a true coach on the floor. Paul wants everybody involved and he’s incredible at taking care of the ball. He alone is reason enough to give the Clippers a fighting chance in any series, but lucky for him he has help.

Amidst the Clippers disappointments there has always been Blake Griffin. He’s far improved from the player that was once known for only dunking and rebounds. He’s become an excellent creator with the ball in his hands unafraid to put the ball down on the floor and make a play whether that be attacking the rim, or kicking out to an open shooter. When the ball isn’t in his hands he’s still one of the most dangerous cutters in the NBA, but now he can also pop out and shoot. Griffin has taken the most 3-pointers of his career this year and he’s making them at a 34 percent clip which is just good enough to keep a defense honest. The variety of ways Griffin can beat his opponent is what makes him as good as he is.

Next to these two are some of the best role guys anybody could ask for. J.J. Redick destroying worlds on the perimeter and DeAndre Jordan altering shots at the rim. Los Angeles still has one of the best starting cores in any playoff series and that gives them an advantage over a lot of teams.