Clippers president blasts team for ’embarrassing’ performance

The Los Angeles Clippers lost to the Denver Nuggets, 120-101, on Saturday in Game 7 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series to be eliminated from the playoffs. The team is disappointed with the result, and team president Lawrence Frank says the way they went out was “embarrassing.”

Frank spoke with the media on Monday, two days after the team’s season came to an end. He talked about the future of the club and also addressed the 19-point loss in Game 7.

“What happened in Game 7, that was extremely embarrassing. And also uncharacteristic,” Frank said, via Clippers reporter Joey Linn. “We’re disappointed with our playoff exit … Our players are embarrassed about Game 7. They’re really upset we lost this series.”

The Clippers and Nuggets both went 50-32 in the regular season, which suggests they were fairly similar in ability level. Their series went seven games as well, but in the deciding contest, Denver won by a blowout. That’s left the Clippers disappointed and embarrassed.

Frank also said that the team is aiming to have Kawhi Leonard and James Harden back for next season.

“We feel really good about our core. And we expect to be really good again next season,” Frank added.

The Clippers have won at least 50 games two seasons in a row. But they haven’t advanced past the first round of the playoffs in any of the last three seasons. They will have to figure out a way to break through in the playoffs to really feel like they’ve had a successful season — the type of season owner Steve Ballmer is chasing.