Up until last week, the LA Clippers excelled in the fourth quarter and under pressure, boasting a remarkable 31-1 record when leading after the fourth quarter and impressive clutch time statistics. However, following their matchup with the Lakers, the Clippers seem to have lost their ability to close out games effectively. This trend continued against the Milwaukee Bucks, as they squandered a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter against a Bucks team missing both Giannis and Khris Middleton. Remarkably, in two of their last four games, the Clippers have surrendered double-digit fourth quarter leads. When questioned about the disappointing defeat to Milwaukee, Kawhi Leonard emphasized the need for the team to focus on the next game rather than dwelling on the setback.
“I mean, yeah,” Leonard said. “You got to. It’s a lot of games in this league. You can’t just stay on one loss. So you know, it’s the next game.”
Perhaps it’s time for the Clippers to take a closer look at these losses and use them as motivation to improve. Being humbled in such fashion could ignite a sense of urgency within the team. In both instances, against the Lakers and the Bucks, individual players like LeBron James and Damian Lillard demonstrated their ability to dominate in crunch time, exposing weaknesses in the Clippers’ defense. Instead of simply moving past these defeats, the Clippers might benefit from analyzing what went wrong and using it to fuel their determination moving forward.
“Like I said, he can win a basketball by himself, he did it tonight,” Leonard said. “He put two on the ball, he found shooters that made shots.”
For the Clippers to establish themselves as genuine championship contenders, they can’t afford to experience these kinds of losses anymore. Consistency and resilience, particularly in crucial moments, are essential qualities for a championship-caliber team. If they aim to be taken seriously in the championship race, they need to address the issues highlighted by these defeats and ensure they don’t repeat them in the future.
