Visits: 4
Los Angeles Clippers made a statement in their first-round playoff loss to Golden State Warriors, says Sky Sports NBA TV analyst Mike Tuck.
The Clippers, who finished the regular season with a 48-34 record despite trading their best player, Tobias Harris, mid-season to earn the eighth seed in the West, won two road games at the Warriors’ Oracle Arena before falling to a 4-2 series defeat thanks to an outstanding 50-point Game 6 display from Golden State star Kevin Durant.
Tuck, who has starred for BBL side Sheffield Sharks for the past 10 years, was impressed by the fight shown by the Clippers and believes they are well-placed to build on what they achieved in this campaign.
“You have a team with no max-deal superstar player on it but a bunch of journeymen and young guys who came together to make a statement in the first round,” said Tuck.
“I loved how Patrick Beverley attacked the series against the Warriors, being that annoying spark-plug and getting into the Warriors’ heads on defense, particularly early in the series.
“Doc Rivers is a proven coach, one of the top coaches in the league. He’s a player’s coach and he got them to buy into his system and relish their underdog role.”
1:51 The Clippers have the salary cap space to add the superstar their roster currently lacks this summer, with players including Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson all available.
Tuck feels the manner in which the Clippers performed this season amounts to the perfect advertising campaign to attract one of the upcoming big-name free agents.
“100 per cent, you can tell they have momentum behind them,” said Tuck. “They have a great owner, a great coach, Jerry West – one of the best GMs around. With great organisations, everything trickles down from the top.
3:36 “To see what they went through with the allegations against their former owner (Donald Sterling) and the exits of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, and knowing they then faced the challenge of completely rebuilding the team, everything they’ve achieved this season starts with their owner, Steve Balmer.
“He has really put his foot on the gas and it trickles down through the organisation to the players. Now you have a roster full of young hungry guys.
“They achieved the eighth seed this season. You add a free agent superstar – for example, Kawhi Leonard – and you’ve got a team with a lot of momentum that people will need to look out for in the West.”
