3 Reasons why the Clippers won't make it to the NBA Playoffs this season

Opinions have been floating around with regards to the obtainability of the playoffs this year for the Los Angeles Clippers. Some say they stand a chance because currently at 15-7 they are not only exceeding expectations but are also ahead of schedule on their number of wins. They have systematically done much better than their expected stats and their home record is frankly unbelievable.

However, on the other hand, there are many that believe this is not true. The forecast for their next six games looks mildly cloudy at best and unfortunately, they can't pull anything as big as they did with the Chris Paul trade seven years ago.

Even with a new roster, they will struggle to stay increasingly relevant as none of the names on their roster have converted into a household one and we can't see that happening soon. Nonetheless, the Clippers should not be completely disregarded as their talent and the current momentum is undeniable.

Let us have a look at three reasons why the Clippers will not make it into the 2019 NBA Playoffs.

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#3 Similar roster to last year, minus some key players

Tobias Harris (34) has been a key piece for LAC

The Clippers have continually managed to push their way through the tougher Western Conference year after year. Through lots and lots of the seasons bygone the Clippers have done consistently above average regardless of the injuries they always seem to have. Last season, however, they finished 10th in the West and decided to make some changes to the roster.

This process of changing out player has caused a few things; one is the loss of key players, and the second is a slew of players who will need some time to adjust into the new set-up. For example, though Tobias Harris and Lou Williams are supposed to take the court by storm, they lost almost All-Star and household name DeAndre Jordan in the process.

Further, the Clippers have also brought in some new young players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson who will make an impact but will never be as effective as an All-star, something this team deeply needs. Some of the other specialists who have been put back into action seem promising, but also will need time to get back into the flow of things.

All in all, the roster isn't horrible or much worse than the last, but it is way too similar to that of last season and just doesn't present any room for improvement.

#2 They are in the Western Conference

Teams of the Western Conference

In recent years, the Western Conference has been the harder side to compete on. There are the powerhouse teams like the Golden State Warriors or the Houston Rockets and many important players such as LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and other superstars.

However, the Clippers should be most concerned about the young teams that are just starting to spread their wings such as the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Denver Nuggets as they're the ones who can push the Clippers out of their playoff dream.

Most of these seeding teams either have well-rounded squads in terms of overall depth or just a high functioning line-up. Further, coming back to LeBron and the Lakers, they stand a chance as well in the run for the playoffs. In the overly competitive West, the Clippers tried to lay it safe with their roster and it probably won't pay off.

#1 Lack of depth

The Clippers have an interesting roster, but not a great one

"Lob-City" has dramatically changed over the years. The Chris Paul trade was monumental seven years ago, especially for creating depth in the team and a winning culture, since they made the playoffs regularly. From then on, they have worked in continuously improving the roster to try to achieve the ultimate stage with almost no success.

Usually, most teams ensure that if their roster is lacking in certain skills and a general depth, they counteract it with an All-Star of a super high-functioning first five. In this case, the Clippers have no All-Star players or even those who seem to have the potential.

Though players like Williams and Harris stand head and shoulders above their teammates and might make it to the All-Star Game thi, it's just will not be enough for the postseason.

Further, with this team, injuries amongst very helpful players such as Patrick Beverley, Montrezl Harrell, and Avery Bradly are always a concern. Further, none of these or the other players on the roster can match what DeAndre Jordan did for the team and a mix of average talents will not cover for that loss.

Again, injuries and team chemistry are extremely important to watch through the season and postseason. So there always is a small possibility that the Clippers might make it to the playoffs, but probably as the last seed.