(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Although the Los Angeles Clippers are regarded by many as a team that has a chance to do some damage this postseason, they’re in for an extremely difficult test in their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns turned themselves into serious title threats when they traded for Kevin Durant earlier this season.
So far, the deal has worked wonders for Phoenix, as the team hasn’t lost a game with Durant in the lineup.
The Clippers will look to change that in the first round of the playoffs, but one NBA coach thinks that Los Angeles is only going to steal one game from Phoenix before losing the series in five games.
The Official Clippers-Suns first round schedule:
Game 1: Sunday at 5:00PM PST
Game 2: Tuesday at 7:00PM PST
Game 3: Thursday at 7:30PM PST
Game 4: Saturday at 12:30PM PST
Game 5*: Tuesday
Game 6*: Thursday
Game 7*:Saturday pic.twitter.com/K770t4cOYN
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 12, 2023
The coach, who made the prediction anonymously to The Athletic, explained that Paul George‘s injury is going to make life too tough on the Clippers.
“I really like the Clippers, but I think without Paul George it’s too much for them,” the coach told The Athletic. “Kawhi Leonard will have a big game within the series. But the Suns are too much with KD.”
Many expect the series to last six or seven games, but this coach clearly does not.
“Coach’s pick: Suns in five,” The Athletic relayed.
George hasn’t officially been ruled out for the entirety of the series, but the expectation is that he’s going to miss at least part of the best-of-seven battle.
As things currently stand, the safest way to evaluate the matchup is probably to assume that George won’t see any action.
With that being the case, the Clippers are going to need to rely heavily on players like Leonard and Russell Westbrook.
Leonard ended up having a very impressive regular season, and his playoff track record speaks for itself, so it’s a safe bet that he’s going to rise to the occasion against Phoenix.
As for Westbrook, he’s looked like a new player since joining the Clippers and will look to keep things rolling in the first round.
With 111 games of playoff experience under his belt, he certainly isn’t afraid of the moment in the postseason.
Leonard, Westbrook, and the team’s solid supporting cast will need to empty the tank to give Los Angeles a chance against Phoenix.
Game 1 is set for Sunday.
If things go right for the Clippers, perhaps they will prove the anonymous coach wrong by winning more than just a single game — and maybe even stealing the series.
The post NBA Coach Shares Bold Prediction For The Clippers’ Chances appeared first on The Cold Wire.