05-23-2021, 01:28 PM
(05-23-2021, 12:32 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: They've definitely pushed all their chips in for a championship-or-bust season.
I think they will be under tremendous pressure to win Game Two. If they go two games down, they won't be out of it, but they'll be in a world of hurt.
If they lose the series, I think they have to re-think their whole construct. It's not like the Clippers ever particularly wanted Paul George. Kawhi persuaded him to go there, and the Clips just cooperated with that. They've already dismissed the coach who was supposed to lead them to glory.
Even if they win the series, they might have to reconsider the KL-PG core if they don't go on to win the championship, or at least make the finals.
Listening to a few Clippers broadcasts, they seemed supremely confident going into the series, and pretty downcast not to see their team perform as expected.
I think their main problem is that they don't have a leader. Kawhi is not a leader, he is "just" a robot that scores 25-30 ppg. He was best player in SA but he wasn't the leader, it was Duncan/Parker/Manu. Similar thing in Toronto with Lowry being the heart and soul of the team.
George is sort of what we are guessing about KP on Mavs. Thinks of himself as top star, wants to be one but doesn't really deliver. And certainly has a hard time to get others to follow him.
I guess their only chance is going after a vet leader, but this is more or less impossible since they can't do a SnT for someone like Lowry. I just don't see any natural born leader that would be available by trade, unless George is put on the table.