The Los Angeles Clippers were eliminated way before anyone thought they should’ve been last season and if they want to get farther into the playoffs this year then a certain player has to step up.
The Clippers had a very disappointing end to their season. All things were looking good as they had a 3-1 series lead but then they lost three straight games. Doc Rivers was then let go and the front office elevated Tyronn Lue to be the new head coach.
It’s a new season and the Clippers have a lot of pressure to win this year, especially after the team across the hallway at Staples Center won it all last season. If the Clippers are going to get past the second round, then Paul George will need to step it up.
You might think that Kawhi Leonard should be the player under the most pressure going into this year considering he’s the best player on the Clippers, but the bottom line is he performs in the playoffs.
Paul George does not.
Can he be Playoff P?
George gave himself the nickname “Playoff P” but then didn’t back it up in a winner-take-all Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets in the conference semifinals. In Game 7, George scored just ten points and was 4-16 from the field.
First off, George is an All-Star player so it is inexcusable for him to only make four shots in a playoff game. To make matters worse, after the game and in the following months, George didn’t take much responsibility for the loss. He instead blamed it on the coaching. That’s not what a leader does.
George just recently signed a max extension that kicks in after this season to stay with the Clippers for four more years (he will be paid $190 million). Players that get max extensions are supposed to be players that perform on the big stage when it matters most. Players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Leonard are great examples. George has yet to do that and it’s necessary for him to prove he is worth the money by coming up big in the playoffs.
He is easily the most under-pressure player on the Clippers to play well this season. It’s one thing for him to play like a max extension player during the regular season but it’s another for him to play well under the bright lights.
Will he do it? Time will tell but he’s going to have some questions to answer if he can’t perform yet again in the playoffs.
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Main Credit Image: Embed from Getty Images
