Ranking the LA Clippers' top 5 sides of the 21st century

Reggie Jackson celebrates for the LA Clippers in last seasons playoffs
Reggie Jackson celebrates for the LA Clippers in last seasons playoffs

Heading into the 2021-22 NBA campaign, the LA Clippers are one of the title favorites - provided Kawhi Leonard can return from his ACL injury prior to the playoffs and that his teammates make it there. Last season, Ty Lue's team finished fourth in the West and made it to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in the franchise's history.

That is somewhat surprising, given the caliber of LA Clippers teams that have gone before, particularly in the 21st century. In this article, we will take a look back over the past 21 years to see which Clippers sides were the best, with a particular focus on the 'Lob City' era as well as their current crop of stars.

Ranking the LA Clippers' best sides of the 21st century

#5 2012-13 (56-26, First-round of playoffs)

LA Clippers star forward Blake Griffin
LA Clippers star forward Blake Griffin

Although they would lose in the first round of the playoffs to the Memphis Grizzlies, who had finished on the same regular season record as them, the LA Clippers were still extremely fun to watch in the 2012-13 campaign. It was also the beginning of a three-year run when the franchise won over 55 games each season.

They ranked ninth overall for points per game and it was the first time since the 1974-75 season that the franchise had swept the LA Lakers. Their success was fueled by Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, who came into their primes to lead the team in scoring. Paul also led the NBA in steals per game and was enjoying his new lob partner, pulling off some spectacular plays at the rim.

Griffin's thirst for athletic dunks was also aided by Jamal Crawford, the team's sixth man who provided 16.5 points per game off the bench. No dunk by Griffin will top DeAndre Jordan's posterization of Brandon Knight that season, though. His mean completion of a Chris Paul lob is still one of the fiercest dunks in NBA history and was the epitome of how the LA Clippers had become one of the most-exciting teams in the league.

#4 2019-20 (49-23, Conference semifinals)

Paul George has relished his opportunity to play in his home state
Paul George has relished his opportunity to play in his home state

The LA Clippers loaded up prior to the 2019-20 campaign. After the era of 'Lob City' had ended, the franchise finished 10th and 8th in the West in consecutive seasons.

However, their fortunes were turned back around with the signings of two NBA superstars in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Together, the pair would propel the Clippers back into title contention and help them to their highest ever finish in the Western conference (2nd).

Finishing just behind their city rivals, the Clippers were one of the most feared sides on both ends of the floor with the second-best offensive efficiency and the sixth-strongest defense.

Going into the playoffs, the hope for neutral NBA fans was that we would see an All-LA Conference Finals matchup. However, that was not the case. After making tough work of the Dallas Mavericks, the Clippers threw away a 3-1 series lead to the Denver Nuggets. Losing in this way and failing to live up to expectations had become unwanted traits of the franchise and ultimately cost Doc Rivers his job, bringing an end to an era of Clippers basketball.

#3. 2014-15 (56-26, Conference semifinals)

The LA Clippers fell at the Conference semifinals in 2015
The LA Clippers fell at the Conference semifinals in 2015

As with last season, LA Clippers fans will wonder what could have been had their side overcome the Houston Rockets in the 2015 conference semifinals.

The Clippers blew a 3-1 series lead, allowing James Harden and Dwight Howard to dominate proceedings. Perhaps they would have lost to a rampant Golden State Warriors side in the Conference Finals, but the loss marked the last time their 'Lob City' trio would pose a major threat in the West.

In a stacked conference, the Clippers ended up finishing on the same record as the Rockets in 2015 and only one game ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs. Blake Griffin and Chris Paul were voted into the All-Star game while DeAndre Jordan pulled down a league-leading 15 boards per contest.

Only the Warriors scored more points each night and had a better +/- than the Clippers. However, their ability to overcome the best sides in the playoffs was still lacking.

Nevertheless, it was another spectacular year of dunks for the franchise and who can forget Chris Paul's famous Game Seven buzzer beater against the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs?

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#2. 2020-21 (47-25, Conference Finals)

Kawhi Leonard with a monster jam in the playoffs
Kawhi Leonard with a monster jam in the playoffs

Although the LA Clippers team last season had a worse winning percentage than those gone by, they performed better than any in the playoffs. Even when Kawhi Leonard was injured after game four of the conference semifinals, his Clippers teammates dug deep to overcome the Utah Jazz in six games, a team who had finished the campaign with the best record in the NBA.

Although they would then fall to the Phoenix Suns in the Conference Finals, the Clippers will have felt it was an opportunity missed had Leonard not been injured. They did take two games off the Suns after all and were close to winning game two on the road had it not been for DeAndre Ayton's buzzer-beating dunk.

What was most impressive about the LA Clippers last season was their tenacity and the levels that some players took their game to, which can be largely put down to Ty Lue's coaching. Reggie Jackson exploded in the playoffs, averaging 17.8 points a game, while Nicolas Batum proved to be an extremely wiley pickup, helping the team on both ends of the court and playing as a reliable small-ball five.

Only the Brooklyn Nets scored more than the LA Clippers per game last season. However, no other team shot better from deep or from the free-throw line than Lue's side during the campaign. In fact, the Clippers were the only side to shoot above 40% from beyond the perimeter. If they can take that momentum into the upcoming campaign, they have a real chance at the title.

#1 2013-14 (57-25, Conference semifinals)

Los Angeles Clippers v Oklahoma City Thunder - Game Two
Los Angeles Clippers v Oklahoma City Thunder - Game Two

No LA Clippers side has ever won more games in the regular season or had a greater win percentage than in the 2013-14 campaign. They averaged the most points of any team in the NBA, with 107.9 per contest, and ranked in the top three for field-goal percentage and +/-.

DeAndre Jordan led the league in rebounds with 13.6 per game, while Chris Paul averaged the most dimes and steals of any player despite only playing in 62 fixtures. Blake Griffin was the team's leading scorer with 24.1 points each night while shooting at 52.8% from the field. Both he and Chris Paul earned All-Star call-ups, with Paul being voted onto the All-NBA first team and Griffin the All-NBA second team.

Aside from their trio of stars, the LA Clippers also had Jamal Crawford off the bench, who averaged 18.6 points per game and won the Sixth Man of the Year award, as well as three-point specialists JJ Redick and Matt Barnes. Despite their firepower, the Clippers fell short in the playoffs again, losing to the second-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder over a six-game series that boasted league MVP Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook on their side.

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Edited by Arnav Kholkar