Los Angeles Clippers: 3 Reasons Postseason Will Prove to Be Difficult

The Los Angeles Clippers don't have what it takes to go far in the playoffs.

When the Clippers acquired Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets, they became a trendy pick to represent the Western Conference this season.

Currently, the team is in fourth in the West and are two and a half games behind the Lakers for the division lead. However, they are also two and a half games from not making the playoffs.

The Clippers have potential and will be a threat in the future. Let's take a look at why this season the Clippers will struggle in the playoffs.

1. No Chauncey Billups

An underrated acquisition by the Clippers was getting Chauncey Billups.

Billups is an excellent player who provides much needed leadership to a young Clippers team. His past playoff experiences, including being named 2004 NBA Finals MVP, is something that LA could have leaned on as they make a playoff run.

The trade for Nick Young will help the Clippers establish depth at the guard position, but will he be enough? Young can produce same the same as Billups going by the stat sheet. However, he is just like most of the players on the team: young and inexperienced.

This may lead to the players being frantic or nervous as they enter a new atmosphere in the playoffs. Billups is known for remaining cool under pressure and is not afraid to take the last second shot. Thus, giving him the nickname "Mr. Big Shot."

Leadership is missing from this team and it will be hard to find as the Clippers head into the playoffs.

2. Lack of Trust in Vinny Del Negro

According to Chris Broussard of ESPN, the tension is high in the Clippers locker room. The players do not want to play hard for their coach and think it is time for a change.

Del Negro has done a fine job as coach this season and led the Clippers to an early division lead over the Lakers. After a small setback, Del Negro seems to be the scapegoat. The Billups injury has changed the team and would make it hard for any team to fight through that.

The players feel, according to the source, that the rotation of each game is not consistent and is not good for the team.

However, with a shortened season, along with multiple injuries and adding five new players into the rotation throughout the year might cause an inconsistent bench.

Coach Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics goes through a similar problem with the amount of injured players they have along with new players. His name does not get mentioned as coaches who may get fired because of his history and because of who he has on his team.

The Clippers players fail to realize that coach has a lot to adjust to and has to find the right rotation during the year.

This team is still growing and they have plenty of time to win championships. They just have to be patient.

3. No Patience

The lack of trust in Vinny Del Negro is an example of why the Clippers have no patience.

They expect everything to happen right now and do not want to spend the time growing as a team. The mindset for them is that they have big name players so they can just go out with ease and win most of the games that they play.

However, building chemistry is key any team that wants to win a championship in the NBA. Just go back to last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder were considered a very talented team with a bright future ahead of them. They were viewed as a team that was on the rise and would have to gather experience before making a run. After losing to the Mavericks in the playoffs, they are the No. 1 seed in the West and are contenders for the NBA Finals.

The Clippers are a high-flying team that likes to make the flashy plays and play very quick. They lack control on the offensive end and will have to learn better management of their possessions.

Los Angeles is next to last in fast break efficiency which shows their lack of managing the ball. In the open floor, the Clippers are dangerous. They have the speed and the athletic ability to create easy baskets. They just have to realize that faster isn't always better and learn control.

The Clippers are a team of the future, but do not look for them to make any noise this upcoming postseason.