Fansided

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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Oct 30, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center Marreese Speights (5) reacts to a basket by guard Austin Rivers (25) in the second half of the game against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Clippers won 88-75. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center Marreese Speights (5) reacts to a basket by guard Austin Rivers (25) in the second half of the game against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Clippers won 88-75. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Shorter rotations

One weakness the Clippers have had since getting Jordan, Griffin, and Paul together has been the not-so-great supporting cast. Sure, they have J.J. Redick, but their bench has always left much to be desired. Relying on Austin Rivers, even with his improvements this year, is never a great feeling and the small forward position is still a giant question mark. Jamal Crawford is okay, but his chances to shoot them out of a playoff series are just as likely as him winning a playoff series on his own. He’s completely unpredictable.

However, of the Clippers benches in recent memory this one might be the best. Marreese Speights is a solid big off the bench. Raymond Felton, in a smaller backup role, has been a solid bench choice. The deeper the bench goes, the hairier it gets, but lucky for Los Angeles bench depth doesn’t matter in the playoffs. In these seven-game series, it’s about matchups, execution, and very short rotations giving star power a chance to shine through. The Clippers don’t need to worry about what they’re going to do when none of Jordan, Griffin, or Paul will be on the floor because Doc Rivers won’t let that happen. Staggered rotations and lineups are common in the playoffs, and starters will be on the floor consistently.

The Clippers should be able to avoid going to an all bench unit often, if at all, and that favors them. They’re a top heavy team and the playoffs eliminate one of their biggest roster weaknesses.