There are sure groups as a sportswriter that you just mustn’t belief. Despite the manner the Detroit Lions are taking part in, their followers gained’t hesitate to inform you a size-14 steel-toe boot is about to drop at any second. We all know what tortured souls I’m speaking about so let’s spare them additional anguish, and simply single out the one which persons are falling for, but once more: The Los Angeles Clippers.
For me to consider that the Clips, or a team with James Harden, are ever actually contenders, they’ll should be up 25 with 3 seconds left in the clinching recreation of the NBA Finals. I don’t care in the event that they swept by the first three rounds of the playoffs and are dealing with the Bucks with out Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, I wouldn’t journey with LA’s stepchild.
This could sound like I’m hating, and that’s in all probability 75 p.c of it, but the different quarter is motivated by self-preservation. You know what number of media members seemed like full morons for hitching their hopes to Aaron Rodgers this season? Innumerable. (The worst was in all probability Mike Greenberg and his Jets watch social gathering that became a childhood reenactment of his most traumatic sports activities recollections, but nonetheless, innumerable media members.)
I don’t care about Ty Lue’s rotations, Harden’s dedication to taking part in basketball, Kawhi Leonard’s resurgence, or no matter Paul George is doing properly — the odds of solely a type of stars being wholesome and pleased come April far outweigh this factor really coming to fruition. This factor being a Clippers postseason run to an NBA title.
At 21-12, Los Angeles is doing what any team with that type of expertise needs to be doing. The Sixers have been 26 video games above .500 a 12 months in the past, had the league MVP, and Harden’s juju permeated like a burnt roux in a batch of gumbo. Philly went out in the second spherical, once more. And we’re going to combine the Beard’s historical past of flameouts with a franchise as incompetent and unfortunate as the Clippers?
While I’m looking forward to Billy Crystal and whoever attends Clippers video games in blue and purple, this isn’t about that. It’s a warning to fellow sportswriters and prognosticators to suppose twice, thrice, 100 occasions a girl earlier than placing your perception in Santa Claus on the web.
If I’ve realized something about this job, it’s that folks solely ever keep in mind your predictions in the event that they’re flat-out terrible. Well, that, and for those who’re nameless sufficient nobody actually reads or remembers. I may make the most off-base prediction — not editorial error — ever, and the solely individuals who would possibly say one thing are my coworkers, and the possibilities of that taking place are 10-1.
So, actually, I suppose this piece was about firing strays at the Los Angeles Clippers all alongside. Alright then, job properly finished, onto the subsequent take.
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