Los Angeles Clippers
2008-09 Record: 19-63
Anticipated Starting Five
PG- Baron Davis
SG- Eric Gordon
SF- Al Thornton
PF- Blake Griffin
C- Marcus Camby
Key Reserves: Chris Kaman, Rasual Butler, Ricky Davis, DeAndre Jordan, Craig Smith, Sebastian Telfair
Biggest Strength: Strong front court
With Camby, Kaman and Griffin the Clippers should be a very strong rebounding and shot blocking team. Depending on Griffin’s progression they should score well in the paint as well. If DeAndre Jordan’s development continues they are deep and very solid inside which will be the foundation of consistency since their perimeter players can tend to be erratic and inconsistent.
Biggest Weakness: Health
Camby, Kaman and Davis missed a total of 88 games last season. That can’t happen again. They are the veterans on the team the the backbone that could lead them to a playoff run.
Key Player: Baron Davis
With the offensive players surrounding Davis I think he needs to tone his shooting down and focus on playmaking. Gordon likes to shoot, Thornton likes to shoot. Griffin needs to get touches. He has Butler and Novak as kick out options and Kaman needs to get touches as well. With no reliable back-up point guard Davis needs to stay healthy and extremely productive for the Clippers to have any shot of competing for the 8th playoff spot.
Biggest Question: Will they ever be good?
I always fall into the trap of thinking the Clippers are going to turn it around. With the amount of high draft picks they’ve had, they always seem like they are about to do so, but something always manages to stop that from happening. This year, after getting very lucky with first overall pick Blake Grffin, they have another promising looking future, perhaps their most promising in recent memory. Can they find a way to screw it up? History has shown that they, more than any other team in professional sports, will find a way.
Best Individual Season of All-Time: Bob McAdoo, 1974-75
34.5 ppg, 14.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.1 spg, 2.1 bpg
Only Chamberlain, Baylor and Jabaar have put up 34 ppg, 14 rpg seasons. McAdoo was the most recent and no one has come particularly close since 74-75. His nephew, James McAdoo, is the 6th ranked player in Class of 2011, and will follow his uncle’s path to UNC.
Pete’s 2010 Outlook: 2nd place, Pacific division / 8th place, Western conference / 14th place, NBA
Well, they’ve tricked me again, but I just can’t help myself. I’m picking this Clippers squad to sneak into the playoffs for a couple reasons. First, I think the arrival of Blake Griffin has generated enough excitement among older players like Baron Davis, that you will see a more resilient team this year. Second, Eric Gordon is poised for a breakout after quietly averaging 19.8 ppg over the last 4 months of his rookie campaign. And finally, I think they finally have decent depth after making some very quality pick-ups in Rasual Butler and Craig Smith to go along with Chris Kaman and DeAndre Jordan.
Dannie’s 2010 Outlook: 3rd place, Pacific division / 19th place, Western conference / 18th place, NBA
This team has a nice blend of solid veteran players and good young guys. It very well may be enough for them to sneak into the 8th playoff seed as Pete has them. I don’t think so this season, the competition is just too fierce. It really comes down to Phoenix, Houston and the Clippers/Warriors for the 8th seed. I think Phoenix still gets it done so the Clippers will be on the outside looking in.
See all 2010 NBA team previews
Greatest strength(s):
-Nice roster (on paper)– great job getting Butler and Smith
-Frontcourt depth
-Baron Davis and his “A” game
-Blake Griffin pick will bring another buzz in LA
-Penny Marshall and Bill Crystal
Greatest weakness(es):
-Still a doormat to the LA Lakers
-Health (#1 cause of concern)
-Attitude (especially Baron Davis)
-Three point shooting
-Management’s commitment to win!
With that said, the Clippers will be 3rd in the Pacific, 9th in the West.
Look for the Clippers and the Suns to compete for that 8th seed in the tough West. Both teams are worthy but it will come down to whether or not the Clippers and Suns can overcome their latest woes the past couple of seasons. For the Clippers, can they overcome the injury bug? For the Suns, can they overcome the lack of depth?
(On a side note, the Sixers will sweep the Clippers (2-0). Look for Elton Brand to keep his cool and come through when it matters most against these Clips. I think he will play in the game at LA on New Year’s Eve. Look for the Sixers to have a slight edge in the three point shooting!)
I caught some Clipper highlights from the other night and Griffin looked like a beast. Blocks, Boards and Hustle. The kid looks good, Baron supposedly is leaner and meaner (and hopefully over Elton-gate).
they’ve got a real chance for the 8th, likely battling Phoenix. Look out for OKC also, I like what they’re doing down there. Got a lot of young talent that could really start to gel this year.
This squad does look real good on paper.
Real Rob I hope your right about Brand but I could totally see Blake making him look feeble and old in a head to had matchup.
2one5- last year, Brand hit a game winner against the Clippers. However, he did not make the trip to Los Angeles due to that damn shoulder injury.
Griffin is a monster. He has ridiculous spring for 4 man, can’t think of anyone else that plays PF that can jump higher (I don’t count Lebron).