After starting last season with a 4-0 record, the Clippers then had a nightmarish 1-11 sequence that changed the course of their season. Now, they were also hit incredibly hard by injuries in that stretch, and that kind of injury misfortune is unlikely to happen again. Still, while casual fans of the NBA might joke about regular season games, especially ones before Christmas, the 2017-2018 season is a stark reminder that all 82 games matter. A poor start, regardless of cause, can doom a team for the remainder of the year.
This is pertinent because the Clippers have a hellish start to their 2018-2019 season.