5 Reasons The Los Angeles Clippers Can Win It All

May 10, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) reacts after a dunk against Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) in game three of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Rockets 128-95 to take a 3-1 lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) reacts after a dunk against Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) in game three of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Rockets 128-95 to take a 3-1 lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Clippers
May 10, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) reacts after a dunk against Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) in game three of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Rockets 128-95 to take a 3-1 lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

With a thorough 128-95 shellacking of the Houston Rockets last night, the Los Angeles Clippers took a commanding 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals and have a chance to send Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and the franchise as a whole to their first ever conference finals.

Houston’s title chances dwindled as soon as Patrick Beverley and Donatas Motiejunas went down with season-ending injuries, but the Clippers’ overwhelming superiority in this series has come as a bit of a surprise. While Houston got a week off to rest after throttling the Dallas Mavericks in five games, the Clippers had to battle through one of the toughest first round series the NBA has ever seen.

Lob City emerged triumphant in seven games, but they had less than 48 hours to rest before Game 1. Their bench was suspect, they were going up against an MVP candidate in James Harden and the Rockets had home-court advantage.

And yet, here we are. The Rockets are on the precipice of imploding and the Clippers are on the cusp of extending the most promising playoff run in franchise history.

How have the Clippers’ become the NBA’s best playoff team so far? What does the immediate future hold for them? And do they have any chance of actually winning it all? Here’s a look at five reasons why the Los Angeles Clippers could very well hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy when all is said and done.

Honorable Mention: DeAndre Jordan becoming a two-way terror

Don’t act like DJ giving it to Dwight Howard hasn’t impressed you. Is Hack-A-Jordan the worst thing to happen to basketball this year? Probably. But Jordan has been outclassing his competition in both series and could wind up being a major X-factor on a championship team.

Next: No. 5