LeBron James 'couldn't believe' Clippers blew 3-1 lead to Nuggets but believes 'the better team won'
The Los Angeles Clippers made it clear they saw themselves as championship contenders all of last season, but when the time came to back up their claim, they folded and blew a 3-1 series lead to the Denver Nuggets. It was a collapse that shocked the entire sports world, including LeBron James, who appeared on "Road Trippin'" and admitted that he was surprised as everyone else that the other L.A. team did not step up in the playoffs.
"I couldn’t believe it…" LeBron told "Road Trippin'" hosts Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye and Allie Clifton. "Obviously the better team won... [LAC] put themselves in a position to get what they been talking s--t about all year, and I just couldn’t fathom ... that they did not seek that opportunity when it was right there, up 3-1."
LeBron tried to downplay the Lakers-Clippers rivalry during the year, but it's clear that he was well aware of the crosstown-rivals basically crowning themselves the new kings of Los Angeles before the season even began. But LeBron was careful with his words, as he made sure to say that Paul George and Kawhi Leonard were not among those players who were "talking s--t" (he also tried to exclude new teammate Montrez Harrell but ultimately admitted he was among the big talkers due to loyalty).
What will be interesting is seeing how the Clippers respond to being seen as a bit of a punchline in the modern NBA landscape. Will they use it as motivation or further crumble under the weight of crushing disappointment?
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