When the Clippers dealt leading scorer Tobias Harris to the Sixers for, among others, a trove of draft picks and future salary cap flexibility on the eve of the trade deadline, not a few quarters believed them to be on rebuild mode for the remainder of the season. It wasn鈥檛 an unreasonable conclusion to draw given the way they hitherto competed; for all their supposed lack of talent in the absence of a marquee name, they led the West standings at one point. There was likewise the matter of their first-round pick in this year鈥檚 draft, which they wouldn鈥檛 need to convey to the Celtics if they miss the playoffs.
As it turns out, conventional wisdom couldn鈥檛 have been more wrong. Whether or not those in the Clippers front office did initially think of tanking is irrelevant at this point; what matters is that when they firmed up their plans in the aftermath of the trade, they decided to aim for a postseason stint. Forget what they were about to forego, or that they could very well be looking at a one-and-done appearance against the conference鈥檚 acknowledged heavyweights. From their vantage point, building a winning culture was most crucial to their cause.
And so the Clippers have found themselves on a mission every time out. True, they hurt themselves when they let go of Harris, a certified glue guy on and off the court. On the other hand, they rightly figured that they wouldn鈥檛 have been able to keep him, anyway; he was due for a new contract, and the numbers he deserved wouldn鈥檛 have allowed them to thereafter go all out for the All-Star free agents they coveted, Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant included. Meanwhile, they鈥檙e keen on sending their prospects the message that they stand for success regardless of circumstance.
Yesterday, the Clippers prevailed for the sixth time in the 10 contests they鈥檝e played since they bid Harris farewell. They鈥檙e scheduled to go up against the reeling Lakers today, and another victory will put them just one game out of sixth in the conference and within striking distance of homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. It鈥檚 a remarkable feat in and of itself, reflective of both head coach Doc Rivers鈥 capacity to motivate his charges and top management鈥檚 commitment to progress. And, frankly, the results are seen to go well beyond their 2018-19 campaign.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since 大象传媒 introduced a Sports section in 1994.
