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via Imago

via Imago

The Los Angeles Clippers have the talent to compete for NBA titles, but bad luck and injuries have thwarted their attempts in the past. This season, the Clippers acquired James Harden in a blockbuster trade to further strengthen their roster. But Harden’s first two games haven’t gone according to the script. The Clippers succumbed to their third consecutive defeat against the Brooklyn Nets yesterday.

Concerns about the Clippers’ team chemistry have arisen following their disappointing performances. However, Paul George remains unfazed by the doubters and assures that the Clippers will improve, given the abundance of star talent on their roster.

Paul George remains bullish about the Clippers’ future

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The Clippers’ start to the season has been concerning. They have lost five games from a possible eight and currently occupy the 10th spot in the Western Conference. They have now lost three games on the trot and face the Mavericks and the Grizzlies in their next two games. Their loss to the Nets was particularly disappointing because the Nets aren’t a title contender. Beating teams like the Nets should be straightforward for a team of Clippers’ caliber.

USA Today via Reuters

However, Paul George has remained positive and stated that the Clippers will “figure it out”. He said, “I’m not worried about this. Of course we wanna win these games. These are games we feel we should win. But it’s early in the season… We got too much starpower here, we got too many great players here for it not to work, for us to not figure it out”.

USA Today via Reuters

The acquisition of James Harden created a lot of hype, as the Clippers added another superstar to their stacked roster. In the first two games with Harden on board, the Clippers haven’t been at their best. Head coach Ty Lue needs to figure out their underlying chemistry issues quickly. Failure to do so could lead to the Clippers being left in the dust in the fiercely competitive Western Conference.

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Will the Clippers figure it out?

Following their defeat at the hands of the Brooklyn Nets, Harden came out and said, “It’s ok. Two games. I’ll figure it out. I just want to win. It doesn’t matter about points or stats. I just want to win games.” Harden’s willingness to sacrifice is a big positive for the Clippers. Ty Lue has proven his mettle when working with superstars, as he coached the LeBron-led Cavaliers to an NBA title in 2016.

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The Clippers possess an abundance of talent that makes a substantial playoff run almost inevitable. Once they figure out their respective responsibilities, the Clippers will become a frightening opponent. But for them to succeed, they would have to make sacrifices. The only thing stopping the Clippers from a deep playoff run is injuries. A motivated roster with the likes of Kawhi, Russ, PG13, and Harden is a match for any team. However, the level of pressure they are currently facing is exceptionally high. The key question is whether they can handle and thrive under this intense pressure.

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