Are Clippers Contenders With Paul?
We’re all already having daydreams of Chris Paul lobs to Blake Griffin for 1080 dunks. And while that’s hard to put out of the brain right now, the real thing we should be wondering about is if the Clippers — yes, the Los Angeles Clippers — have just emerged as a legitimate championship contender.
Notice I didn’t say playoff contender. Because that should be a given at this point. CP3 dragged a Hornets team playing Marco Belinelli and Aaron Gray major minutes into a six-game playoff series with the Lakers. So add him to Griffin, and you’ve got a real-deal playoff team. The first one the Clippers will have had since 2005-06.
But again, that’s not really the question I’m asking. I’m asking if the Clippers are in the same class as the Thunder, Mavericks, Spurs, Grizzlies and (gasp!), the Lakers.
The answer: No, not yet. Close, but not there. Very close, in fact. If you start two All-Stars, you’re in the conversation, at least. It comes down to this: Just look at the starting five. Paul, Randy Foye, Caron Butler, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan. One of these is not like the other.
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