Kenyon Martin: Clippers can’t win in the playoffs
The Los Angeles Clippers have one of the best records in the NBA, but they have not played particularly well over the past month or so. At one point, LA ripped off a string of 17 straight victories in the month of December and looked like an early-season title contender. Since March began, the Clippers have been unable to win back-to-back games.
On Sunday, LA put a fairly convincing 93-80 beating on the New York Knicks. However, former Clipper and current Knick Kenyon Martin was not concerned about the loss because he believes Chris Paul and company are destined to fail in the postseason.
“They can’t do it in the playoffs, so it doesn’t matter,” Martin said, via ESPNLosAngeles.com. “Regular season, it’s all up-and-down. We know how the game goes in the regular season.
“I don’t care what they do, to be honest with you. I hope they lose every game.”
As Pro Basketball Talk pointed out, the Clippers last four losses have come against the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder. All four of those teams will be in the playoffs, so Vinny Del Negro is going to have to find a way to get his team to play consistently against quality opponents if LA is going to make a deep run.
Having said that, Martin is clearly biased toward his former team. The Clippers didn’t want to keep him around, so it’s only natural for him to want them to fail. As we have learned in the past, talk is cheap when it comes to the playoffs. LA could turn it on as soon as the postseason begins, or they could bow out and prove Martin right. Only time will tell.
