Roundtable: Best Moments of the 2018-19 LA Clippers Season

We’re still three games away from the end of the 2018-19 regular season, but before getting caught up in the drama of the playoffs, we thought it would be a good time to reflect on what a joyous year it has been thus far. Here are the Clips Nation staff’s favorite memories of this season.

Lucas Hann: My favorite moment of the season was when the Clippers traded Avery Bradley. This was also objectively the best moment of the season.

Robert Flom: My favorite memory of the season is probably Lou Williams’ game-winning shot against the Nets from Mar. 17. It certainly wasn’t the Clippers’ biggest or best win of the season, or probably even in the top 5. But Lou has been special in clutch time all season, and nothing sums that up better than the buzzer-beating three he hit fading to his left, a signature Sweet Lou classic. Additionally, the aftermath of the shot — from the Clippers players mobbing Lou, to the locker room where they were all joking about how he never celebrates and needs to improve — is a great representation of the Clippers’ locker room chemistry and family vibe that has been so great to watch this season. I will remember this team for a very long time, and I’ll remember that game-winner, too.

Kenneth Armstrong: The most memorable moment for me was Lou Williams’ game-winning shot against the Nets. The narrative of that game — coming from behind, absolutely overwhelming the other team’s reserves — was the perfect microcosm of this season. And, of course, it ended with a display of Lou’s particular kind of excellence, which is undeniable yet unassuming. Who else could elevate from such a distance, perfectly drain a game-winning shot, and then simply jog down to the end of the court without a real celebration? It’s almost as if even he couldn’t believe how special this season has been for this team and himself.

Chris Murch: I have a tie for my favorite moment. The first moment that came to mind was because it was the only game I could attend this season (I live in NYC). I think it also meant a lot to the early trajectory of the season. It was the overtime game against the Memphis Grizzlies where the Clips were basically down the entire fourth quarter, and Danilo Gallinari got fouled on a three with 1.6 seconds left, down three. He canned all of them and the Clips ended up winning 112-107. This was also the game after they blew a 24-point lead to the Wizards. Huge statement game that was hard-fought and exciting. My second moment is the Clips beating L.A’s other team — effectively eliminating them from the playoffs — to put the stamp on the Clippers being the best team in the City of Angels. As they have been now for almost this whole decade. Such a great season.

Eric Patten: The best moment of the season is entirely different from my favorite moment. The best moment was arguably the stretch of comebacks during the Clippers’ six-game road trip in February. It showed they were capable of rallying together, regardless of who was in the lineup, and further revealed the remarkable job Doc Rivers has done with this group. Although that stretch also indicated their flaws, which we already knew, the sheer will to win and stick together will last well beyond this year.

My favorite moment is arguably fleecing the Lakers and Sixers in a 48-hour period. Yes, we loved Tobi and Bobi, and Mike Scott’s “we ain’t no (expletive)” comment ruled, but getting Landry Shamet, Mike Muscala and two first-rounders was a huge move toward the future (I left Wilson Chandler out intentionally for Robert’s sake). To flip Muscala for Ivica Zubac may have saved the current season and continues building a brighter future. All praise Jerry and Lawrence.

Michelle Uzeta: My favorite moment of the Clippers 2018-19 season involves Mr. 94 Feet, Patrick Beverley. During the Clippers’ 118-110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Mar. 8, Beverley shut down MVP candidate Paul George with his lockdown defense, then quieted him a second time through postgame social media.

During the contest between the two playoff-bound franchises, the crafty and much smaller Beverley held George to seven points on 3-for-10 shooting and caused him to turn over the ball 4 times in 44 possessions. Beverley left the floor a game-high +22. George later blamed his underwhelming performance on poor officiating, but Pat wasn’t hearing any of it. #Nawbrabra

This moment shows how Beverley is the personification of this season’s squad. Heart and hard work. Getting results. Consistently under-credited.

Shapan Debnath: My favorite moment of the season was actually pretty much recorded on TLTJTP. The Celtics comeback was so much hype that I couldn’t contain myself. I went from thinking we were going to semi-tank, to the flurry of great moves at the deadline, to seeing so much come together immediately in that Celtics game. I remember looking up all the Landry Shamet highlights I could find after that game. I truly felt like we got some special pieces at the deadline, and for a moment I thought we could somehow be better without Tobias. Who knew.

Max Jeffrey: Without a doubt, the greatest moment of the season for the LA Clippers was their 28-point comeback victory, the franchise’s best ever, against the Boston Celtics back on Feb. 9. These teams had no bad blood, not even a conference rivalry, but there was just so much energy and grit coming from a Clippers team who had experienced massive roster turnover in the days prior. They outscored the Celtics on the road 70-38 in the second half of the matchup, while introducing newcomers Landry Shamet, Ivica Zubac, Garrett Temple, and JaMychal Green into their rotation. It was the first time this season they would utilize a starting roster featuring 3 players 21 years-old or younger, and it was pivotal in establishing the direction this team would take to close out the season.

Immediately following the trade deadline, after moving on from Tobias Harris while acquiring youth and draft picks, it appeared that a postseason run maybe wasn’t so likely. But the excitement and flashes of potential in that game would set the tone for the remainder of the season. That game was the first of many exciting ones to come, built on a foundation of versatility, selflessness, and perseverance. And now, the Clippers are headed for the postseason for the 7th time in 8 seasons.

Sabreena Merchant: My favorite game of the Clippers season was Jan. 20 in San Antonio. The team had lost five games in a row, had been blown out by the Spurs twice already, and was missing Lou Williams and Danilo Gallinari. It seemed like the moment when the clock would strike midnight, and LA’s Cinderella story of a season would end. Instead, Tobias Harris put the team on his back (9 assists! who knew?), guys like Johnathan Motley and Sindarius Thornwell gave unexpected contributions, and the Clippers righted the ship. Harris might be gone, but that never-back-down spirit isn’t. That energy has been with the team the entire year, and this was my favorite example.