Entering the bubble, the LA Clippers were among the favorites to win the NBA Finals. However, they have run into a little trouble in the first round of the playoffs.
The Clippers are +300 to win the championship.
The only two teams with better odds to win the championship this year are the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks. Both of those teams lost a game in their opening series, but both carry the momentum after two straight victories.
The series between the Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks feels a bit different. Luka Doncic is playing like one of the best players in the league.
The Western Conference is tough, and this series is now up for grabs after the Mavericks secured the Game 4 win.
Doncic from Deep
Game 4 ended by Doncic sinking a deep three to beat the buzzer in overtime to win the game for the Mavericks. The young star finished the game with 43 points, 17 rebounds, and 13 assists.
All of this happened in a game that some thought he wouldn’t play in. He suffered an ankle injury in Game 3 and was questionable in this one. However, after a 40-point triple-double, it looked as if he was feeling just fine.
Doncic had multiple treatments before the game and was in the starting lineup. The Mavericks won this game even without Kristaps Porzingis, their second-best player, who sat out due to knee soreness.
Doncic has dominated this series and is starting to receive great help from others around him. The Clippers will have to limit his damage if they want to move forward to the second round.
Clippers Have All The Pieces
This is the second time that the Clippers have built a winning team under head coach Doc Rivers. First, it was Blake Griffin and Chris Paul leading the charge. They had some great teams but always failed to make it to the NBA Finals.
After acquiring Paul George and signing Kawhi Leonard, they now have one of the most talented teams in the league. A lot is expected out of this Los Angeles team.
Leonard has proven his championship pedigree. He has won with the Spurs and Raptors and is now trying to do the same with the Clippers.
The Clippers have also put some great pieces around these superstars. They are not alone out there, and arguably have much better role players than the Lakers. Guys like Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, and Patrick Beverley have all shown their ability to play well.
Most NBA fans would love to see a matchup between the two Los Angeles teams in the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers are up 2-1 on the Blazers and look to carry the momentum.
Now there is a lot of pressure on the Clippers to move on. But it’s not going to be easy the way this Dallas team is playing.
It’s a tied series, but Clippers fans might have to begin to worry. Losing a game to the Mavs without Porzingis? This is becoming too close of a series for this second-seeded squad.