The LA Clippers Return to the Playoffs!

I was originally going to write this great article about the return to the playoffs by the Clippers. Then, I discovered that Bill Simmons already wrote one this week that obviously trumps anything I could have written, as its funny and actually informative to some limited extent. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060407

So instead, I’m going to debate the strangest thing of all. Why the early 1990s Clippers never won any playoff series! This team actually had Danny Manning, and a backcourt of Mark Jackson and Ron Harper when all 3 of them were in their primes. If you were to ask me before this season, I never would have believed the Clippers could get a top 5 or 6 seed with an aging Sam Cassell, an average Cuttino Mobley, and an Elton Brand. Obviously, Elton Brand might be better than Danny Manning ever was. The difference between this Clippers team and the early 1990s Clippers team is the bench and the starting center. Chris Kaman has really blossomed into a “capable” if not above-average center. This makes a huge difference when you actually have someone to place on the other team’s 7-footer, and when on some nights he is actually able to dominate.

Just to take a look, here are the 1993 Clippers (lost to Houston, in the 1st round of the playoffs in a decisive Game 5, by only 4 points); it was the only appearance in the playoffs w/ Manning, Harper, and Mark Jackson. The 1992 team had Doc Rivers at the point. (I looked all that up).
PF – Manning
SF – Loy Vaught
C- Stanley Roberts
SG – Harper
PG – M. Jackson
6 – Ken Norman
7- Gary Grant

2006 Clippers
PF – Brand
SF - Magette
C – Kaman
SG – Mobley
PG – Cassell
6-Ramanovic
7-Livingston

Odds are the Clippers are stuck playing the Mavs in the 1st round. Its too bad, because the Clippers could have definitely handled the Grizzlies. David Stern better change his idioitic playoff seeding so that teams are seeded based on records, as opposed to winning their divisions, otherwise, I’m going to continue sending hate-mail. Assuming the Clippers lose in the 1st round to the Mavs, the greater question becomes – who would win a playoff series between the 1993 Clippers and the 2006 Clippers??? I think Stanley Roberts could eat Sam Cassell, so I’m going with the 1993 Clippers.