Back in December, the Los Angeles Clippers looked totally dead in the water. They were 6-21, and everyone was sure they would be playing no part in the postseason once April came around. Now, they finish the regular season with a winning record for a 15th season in a row, and prepare to face the Warriors in Wednesday's play-in game. 

It's been an absolutely remarkable turnaround for a team that had an almost-unreal type of strange season. During the early parts of the year, this group couldn't seem to get out of its own way. Then, Ty Lue declared that his goal was for the team to go 35-20 or better for the final 55 contests of the season. 

At that moment, it seemed like the collective NBA media world and fanbases around the league all let out a tremendous laugh, as if the Clippers would have any chance of fighting back to a postseason spot after their dreadful start. But now, LA has done the impossible, and they're the ones laughing at all those who doubted them. 

The Clippers came all this way despite trading away James Harden to Cleveland at the trade deadline. Many were sure this would derail the progress they had been making.

But although there were growing pains, this group continued to rally together and ended up going one game better than Lue's seemingly ambitious goal of 35-20. In the last 55 games of the regular season, the Clippers finished with an astonishing 36-19 record. 

In doing so, they earned a winning record (by one game) for a franchise record 15th consecutive winning season (over .500). This mark is also the fourth-longest winning seasons in a row for any team in NBA history. 

Following LA's victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 82 at Intuit Dome on Sunday, Ty Lue was asked about his team's incredible milestone. 

"I mean, it's a great achievement," Lue said. "Especially to be down where we were at to start. For all the guys just to stay the course, not give in, was huge. To come back from 6-21 and be 42-40, just says a lot about the heart in that locker room, about the other coaches that do a tremendous job every night. So, just staying the course."

Lue's message in the aftermath was measured while acknowledging what still comes next. There was a moment to be proud, and then to move on. That's the only way to treat it right now, because the Clippers still have to win two games to make the playoffs. 

LA will have two days to prep for the team they just defeated, but play-in games have a way of throwing out everything that came before them. It's win or go home. 

The Clippers have already proven they can handle pressure. A team that went 36-19 from the depths of a 6-21 start knows how to win with their backs against the wall. They've been in uncomfortable spots plenty of times and found a way through. Lue has his guys believing, and that counts for something. 

At this point, most of Clipper Nation will probably consider this season a net positive no matter what happens from here on out. It's been the most bizarre six months anyone could have dreamed up, but the journey is still not finished.