Remember the LA Clippers? The adversity-overcoming team from a season ago that kept digging themselves out of 0-2 holes to reach their first-ever Western Conference Finals?
Those guys are still overcoming adversity this season but it hasn’t been as rewarding. The Clips are losers of five straight games and are just hanging onto the conference’s No. 8 seed, which puts them in a “win and in” situation when the play-in tournament rolls around.
But their ability all year long to grind out wins and not bottom out without the services of Kawhi Leonard (zero games), Paul George (26 games) and Norman Powell (three games) has put them in a position in which their season-long patience could be rewarded. And, as luck would have it, Paul George might be taking the court soon.
Paul George has just been upgraded to QUESTIONABLE to play for the Clippers tomorrow vs. the Jazz. https://t.co/E00Qrf5fbZ
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 28, 2022
What could his return change?
For one, it could change the way we bet. Last season’s PG-led Clippers team figured out how to get past the No. 1 seeded Utah Jazz in the conference semis before giving the No. 2 seeded Suns all it could ask for in the conference finals. Assuming that George remains healthy and the Clippers make it past the play-in round(s), their +3000 odds (at Tipico Sportsbook) to come out of the West are enticing.
Their +6000 odds to win the championship are riskier. However, if you choose to believe Terance Mann when he mentioned postgame how he isn’t worried about the losses because the Clippers have guys coming back (plural), then perhaps a potential Powell or Leonard return would make those championship odds a bit more intriguing.
Nevertheless, PG is first in line.
the paul george return is imminent. i’m excited about the week ahead let’s go pic.twitter.com/4AqWVCtb4c
— Jamal Cristopher (@JamCristopher) March 27, 2022
Stay tuned.
