Imagine saying that.
But it's true.
The Clippers have the third-best record in the Western Conference at 39-17, 4 1/2 games behind conference leader San Antonio (43-12) and 11/2 games behind Oklahoma City (39-14).
The Clippers have the best point guard in the NBA in Chris Paul and a rising star in power forward Blake Griffin.
They have the veteran presence of Chauncey Billups and the deepest team in the NBA, led by reserve guard Jamal Crawford.
So with 26 regular-season games left for the Clippers, it's time for them to make their push toward the playoffs.
Here are eight questions we need to answer about the Clippers:
How important is Chris Paul to the Clippers' championship hopes?
Really, you asked that question?
We've already said Paul is the best point guard in the NBA. He's one of the best closers, best leaders, best tacticians and best players in the league. He'll be mentioned as one of the most-valuable-player candidates behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Paul was just named the MVP of the All-Star game, which showed how great he is. The Clippers were 6-6 when Paul didn't play because of a bruised right kneecap.
So, to use a cliche: As Chris Paul goes, so go the Clippers.
Should the Clippers stand pat or make a move?
That's a tough question.
It comes down to whether the Clippers want to gamble and go all in for the risk of hoping to win an NBA title right now with an aging player like Kevin Garnett (36) or stand pat and try to win in the future with DeAndre Jordan (24) and Eric Bledsoe (23).
Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro is in the last year of his contract and would like to push the envelope and go for it this season.
The Clippers' front office has to eye the future of the franchise and do what's best strategically and financially.
Garnett, who has been rumored to be in a deal between the Clippers and Celtics, would make L.A. better but also older and slower. Though Garnett has toughness and championship experience, he doesn't provide the athleticism, speed and youth that Jordan and Bledsoe give the Clippers. And that's what separates the Clippers from most teams.
If it were up to me, I'd stand pat. Here's why: The Clippers always talk about the process, the steps it takes to become a contender. Consider a young team like Oklahoma City. The Thunder lost to the Lakers in the first round of the 2010 playoffs, lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 Western Conference finals and then reached the NBA Finals in 2012 but lost to Miami.
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