Clippers…still Cursed

Posted by HoopsAvenue on July 9, 2008 under General NBA, LA Clippers | Be the First to Comment

Just days ago Clipper fans across the globe (or, more realistically, across some areas of LA) were contemplating how far the Clippers might go in next season’s playoffs. Today those fans are hearing that Elton Brand is planning to leave the franchise for The City of Brotherly Love, a move that, no matter how unexpected, can’t be that surprising to fans of the NBA’s most cursed franchise.

The Clippers were a laughingstock in the 90s and haven’t fared too much better this decade despite short bursts of hope. It seemed LA’s 2nd team was finally turning the corner when they went 45-37 and qualified for the playoffs in 2005-06. The Clips couldn’t build on that momentum though and failed to make the playoffs each of the past two seasons, with Brand missing almost all of last season. Still, this didn’t look like your 90′s Clippers as the franchise enticed Baron Davis back to his hometown just a week ago. Sure, they’d lose Corey Maggette, but every team has financial constraints and a Davis-Brand combo could be lethal. But, now it looks like we’ll never see that 1-2 punch with Brand bolting for Philadelphia.

A look back at recent Clippers history:

• Clippers draft Darius Miles 3rd overall in the 2000 NBA Draft. No high school player had been picked as high in the draft before. He played 2 seasons with the Clippers, never averaging more than 10 points a game.
• In the summer of 2004, Kobe Bryant flirts with the idea of jumping ship to the Clippers before re-signing with the Lakers.
• Clippers draft Shaun Livingston 4th overall in the 2004 NBA Draft. To date, he’s missed 101 of 246 regular season games due to injuries.
• Elton Brand ruptures his Achilles tendon in August 2007 and misses nearly the entire 2007-08 season.

Just another day for Clippers fans.