The Phoenix Suns entered the 2023-24 season as the most talented backcourt behind Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. However, after a week, the Los Angeles Clippers acquired James Harden, naturally overshadowing the talent in Arizona. With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George already at the helm, Harden united with Russell Westbrook, making a rare big-4 in the league.
Soon, with a handful of struggling games, the Clippers made it amongst the top bracket. However, after waving the top flag in the West early in February, the Clippers now rank 4th, facing the wear and tear of the season. Just 1 game behind the New Orleans Pelicans, they now contend for the home-court advantage as the playoffs near.
With that, and a 2 game losing streak, their electric wing Terance Mann believes all will be fine in LA. When asked about his confidence, Mann resonates that his belief “comes from Russell Westbrook” and the starting superstars; given their history within the post-season. Adding to his statement, Mann says, “It comes from knowing that when it’s time those guys are going to — you worry about offensive rebounds and transition — those guys are going to look, check, box out, and check those boxes because they know what it takes to get there.”
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Terance Mann on where his playoff confidence in the Clippers comes from:
“It comes from Russell Westbrook, who's been to the Finals. It comes from Kawhi Leonard, who has multiple rings. It comes from [Paul George] and James [Harden] have been far into the playoffs. It comes from… pic.twitter.com/kiORSlMfFH
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 20, 2024
Clippers’ roster is a testament to the sacrifices and contributions their quartet put into every game. Each of them has a history of shouldering a franchise, with the ability to replicate it. Moreover, they have a first-hand experience of making it deep into the post-season; Brodie made it to the finals and Kawhi won it all in Toronto.
Currently, overcoming the load of the season is the only challenge the roster faces. Once in proper shape, the Clippers remain as the frontrunners in lifting the title this season; hopefully with a little push from Westbrook’s previous run in the league.
Russell Westbrook’s playoff stats
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Currently in his 15th NBA season, Russell Westbrook has made it to the playoffs 12 times, playing 116 games. While he is yet to win a ring, he has been part of some of the most intense games in the post-season.
Brodie averages 24.5 points, 7.9 assists, and 7.2 rebounds through his career playoff stints. His best tenure came in the 2016-17 season when he averaged a triple-double throughout the postseason. Playing 38 minutes per contest, Russell averaged 37.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 10.8 assists per game.
Last year, Westbrook’s presence saw the Clippers rising significantly during the post-season. As Kawhi and PG resorted to the bench due to their injuries, Westbrook led the squad, providing the sparks of hustle and grit the team needed.
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In the 5 playoff games last season, Westbrook averaged 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists (a notable climb from 15.9 points, 7.5 assists, and 5.8 rebounds in the regular season).