Clippers face brutal reality that nobody expected

Tyronn Lue, LA Clippers | Harry How/GettyImagesWith the minimal amount of true championship contenders in the NBA, the LA Clippers have been the worst. Their age caught up to them faster than anyone expected, leaving holes in their defense and overall depth and hinting that their chances of winning the NBA Finals this season are extremely low.

Now, as the 12th seed, with the chance to fall even further to the bottom of the Western Conference tonight against the Denver Nuggets, the Clippers have to get a grip and work three times as hard as everyone else to finish in the top six.

Currently, a conclusion in the play-in tournament looks about as realistic as it is going to get. This puts the…