Los Angeles Clippers: Will Comeback Propel Them to Deep Playoff Run?

On Sunday night the Los Angeles Clippers trailed by 27 at one point during the third quarter of their opening game of their series with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Fueled by late three-pointers by Nick Young and Reggie Evans giving them their first lead of the game with 58 seconds remaining, the Clippers stole an easy home win from the Grizzlies, who seemed to have mailed it in way too early and lost 99-98.

Sure, it is only one win and anything can happen in a series as closely contested as this should be. However, symbolically, this victory could serve as a major boost for a Clippers team that sort of coasted through the regular season.

The offseason acquisitions of Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups to join forces with Blake Griffin were supposed to allow the Clippers to compete with Staples Center roommates the Lakers in a crowded Western Conference. However, when Billups went down on Feb. 6 with a torn Achilles tendon, the team sort of lost its identity.

The Clippers were able to keep grip on a playoff spot (first trip to the postseason since 2006), but did slip to the fifth seed, which put them in the position to be on the road against Memphis.

Not having former Finals MVP Billups to provide his on-court leadership certainly hurts, but he is obviously around on the bench to offer any and everything he can to help the team win.

Getting the win in such a way Sunday night will be a huge momentum swing for the Clippers against the only team that may be able to match their athleticism out West in the Grizzlies.

From a physical standpoint, not many teams are able to equal that of the Clippers. And if they can use this win as a point of cohesion, they will be a difficult out for any team.

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