The Sixer Sense
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NBA Rumors: Philadelphia 76ers Linked To Los Angeles Clippers

Feb 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) attempt to dribbles past the defense of Orlando Magic forward Jason Smith (14) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Orlando Magic won 124-115. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) attempt to dribbles past the defense of Orlando Magic forward Jason Smith (14) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Orlando Magic won 124-115. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers during press conference at game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers during press conference at game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Clippers Tone Has Changed

The Los Angeles Clippers are a very good team.  They are statistically among the NBA leaders in both offense and defense.  In fact, as recently as early May 2016, Doc Rivers told reporters:

"“How many teams are in the top five or top six in scoring and defense?” “Three, and we were one of them. The numbers tell us we’re really good. An analytical guy would look at our numbers and say, ‘I wouldn’t touch your team. We’re close and we know that. I would have loved to have seen us 100% healthy going into the playoffs, and if we hadn’t won it then, you would have known what you need to do. Now it’s more of a guesswork, but I think we have a pretty good idea what we need to do.” – Rivers said to reporters at the team’s practice facility, three days after the Clippers’ season ended in the first round of the playoffs.”"

But statistics say quite a bit about a team. Sometimes the story is not favorable.  The Los Angeles Clippers did not make it past the first round of the 2016 NBA playoffs: losing to the Portland Trailblazers 4-2.   In the 2015 NBA playoffs, they defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-3 but fell in the next round to the Houston Rockets 4-3.   In the 2014 NBA Playoffs, they defeated the Golden State Warriors 4-3 but lost in the next round to the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-3.  In the 2013 NBA Playoffs, they lost to the Memphis Grizzlies 4-2.

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The Clippers may not admit it publically, but the team only has so many chances in this NBA to “get it done” and right now the window is beginning to close on the team.  Rivers said he expected Griffin and Paul to opt out of the final year of their contracts next summer, though that’s a worry for another day. In the meantime, the team has eight players hitting free agency this year:  Center Cole Aldrich, forward Jeff Ayers, guard Jamal Crawford, forward Jeff Green, forward Wesley Johnson, forward Luc Mbah a Moute, guard Pablo Prigioni, and guard Austin Rivers.

But in late May, after having time to think about the status of the team, he responded to the question of trading key pieces once more:

"I don’t worry about the corner thing, ever. I’m always gonna do what’s good for the team. You don’t ever do anything but that. But I feel like the best thing for the team right now is to keep them together. Can that change? Of course it can change. But I don’t think it will."

Unless he recognizes an opportunity to improve the team.