After losing All-Star forward Paul George in the offseason, expectations around the Los Angeles Clippers plummeted.
Most oddsmakers predicted a steep decline, projecting them to finish at the bottom of the Pacific Division and with a sub-.500 record.
But instead of folding, the Clippers defied those low expectations emphatically, finishing the regular season with 50 wins and securing a top-five seed in the fiercely competitive Western Conference.
Head coach Tyronn Lue credited his team’s resilience and mindset for their impressive turnaround, pointing to the external doubt as fuel for their success.
“I think our group has been playing with a chip on its shoulders all year because of that (outside skepticism),” Lue said, via Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times.
“We just found ways to win. We just found ways to win. No matter whose night it was, we just kind of featured that guy, played hard defensively and competed and we played together. … Being counted out and staying the course and playing with that chip on your shoulder all year long.”
Pacific Notes: Butler, Booker, Clippers, Lakers https://t.co/sAN9mgKyaY pic.twitter.com/eahhMF1HZ4
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 18, 2025
