“The Clippers really beat top-seeded Phoenix Suns without 3 of their best players?”: Chris Paul and co meekly bow out to the Paul George-less Clippers

Arun Sharma | 15/12/2021
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The Los Angeles Clippers just dethroned the top seed without their best players playing.

No Paul George, Kawhi Leonard or Nic Batum, no problem. The Clippers just walked past the former No.1 seed Phoenix Suns who were also without their best players. Though Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton did not play, their starting lineup was much better than the Clippers.

For a team that lost to the Kings twice this season, their record against the big teams has been pretty good. Much of that can be attributed to Paul George and his heroics, but they have shown they can do it without him.

Landry Shamet had a sour return to his home from the year before, only managing to score 6 and losing rather spectacularly. The scoreline may read 111-95 but the Suns were the second best from the tip off.

Also Read: “Sleep, and inspiration from my son Bronny James”: LeBron James on what keeps him going at almost 37-years of age

The Los Angeles Clippers are an enigma – They lose to minnows with their best players and beat the top seed without them

Paul George and Nic Batum have been leading the Clippers from the back this season in the absence of Kawhi Leonard. They’ve had a slow start, but picked up form after that. They currently sit 5th in the conference, 1 place above their stadium roommate, the Los Angeles Lakers.

For years they’ve lived in the Lakers’ shadow, but this year they may be better equipped on paper to beat them in a 7 game series. The Lakers may have the superstars, but the Clippers have the chemistry. Considering Kawhi Leonard hasn’t played one minute this season, their record is impressive.

While all the talk this season has been the battle at the top between the Warriors and the Suns, the battle for the spots below them is equally interesting. The Grizzlies, Jazz and the Clippers have all been trading places with each other, and could very well be the dark horse come the playoffs.

Also Read: “LeBron James made me feel human for a second”: Gilbert Arenas reveals the trash talk by LBJ that sent him to black ops training

Post Edited By: Amulya Shekhar
Los Angeles Clippers Paul George Phoenix Suns

About the author

Arun Sharma

Arun Sharma is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. A double degree holder and a digital marketer by trade, Arun has always been a sports buff. He fell in love with the sport of basketball at a young age and has been a Lakers fan since 2006. What started as a Kobe Bryant obsession slowly turned into a lifelong connection with the purple and gold. Arun has been an ardent subscriber to the Mamba mentality and has shed tears for a celebrity death only once in his life. He believes January 26, 2020, was the turning point in the passage of time because Kobe was the glue holding things together. From just a Lakers bandwagoner to a basketball fanatic, Arun has spent 16 long years growing up along with the league. He thinks Stephen Curry has ruined basketball forever, and the mid-range game is a sight to behold. Sharma also has many opinions about football (not the American kind), F1, MotoGP, tennis, and cricket.

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