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Overall
Win/Loss Record : 40-26 second place
Pacific Division
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8
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Projected 2012/2013 Finish
6
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Last season’s
Team Statistics and League Rank
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Returning
Individual Statistical Leaders
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Projected Starters Based on Last Season’s Performance, Veteran Seniority and Projected Impact
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Key Reserves Based on Last Season’s Performances, Veteran Seniority and Potential Impact.
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2012/2013 Projection: 55-27 second place in the Pacific Division
with an outside shot to knock their dreaded hometown rivals the Lakers off
their rather high pedestal.
Analysis:
Last season, despite posting
their best performance in franchise history posting one of the best records
in the league along with winning only their second playoff series in its
history, the Clippers were a bit of a disappointment. Everyone expected the Clippers to simply
dominate with the acquisition of possibly the best point guard in the league
Chris Paul paired alongside the reigning rookie of the year Blake
Griffin. Although they made an
impressive combination, the rest of the team looked rather underwhelming at
best. Both Paul and Griffin were the
only consistent scorers in the starting five as the other three remained
unreliable at best and at worst, completely invisible. Many expected a breakout season from
starting center DeAndre Jordon as the Clipper signed him on a five year 50$
million extension; however, despite all the hype and money , Jordan played
rather underwhelming as he was a non factor on the offensive end while being
a moderate, if not mediocre presence on the defensive end too. Much was also expected from Caron Butler,
an All Star caliber player who had just come off winning an NBA title with
the Dallas Mavericks; however, his contributions proved to be negligible as
his offense slipped to near career lows while his defense, supposedly his
strong suit, was average if not unspectacular.
Add that with a rather
non-descript bench that consisted of washed up veterans and mediocre role
players, much of the last season comprised of the Blake Griffin and Chris
Paul show with them doing much of the worked while the rest of the team just
watching. It was eerily similar to
Paul’s experience in New Orleans where both he and former teammate David West
had to carry their team throughout their seasons together. They brought the Hornets to the playoffs, but
those post season appearances never materialized to much as they were quickly
ousted in the first round each time.
With Paul becoming an unrestricted free agent at the end of the
season, it was imperative to Clippers to assure him that would not have to
endure the same experience as he had while playing for New Orleans. And they did so rather well by
orchestrating one of the most active off seasons in the league acquiring
solid veteran talent to convince Paul that they are a team primed for his ultimate
prize, an NBA championship ring.
They started by acquiring a
familiar face in Lamar Odom, whom the Clippers originally drafted in 1999,
but later moved on to win two NBA championship rings with the Clippers’ arch
nemesis Los Angeles Lakers. Odom
struggled last season as he posted career lows after being traded to Dallas
Mavericks last season—so much so that both Mavericks and Odom agreed that it
was probably for the best that they went their separate ways during mid
season. Many who saw him play last
year wondered if Odom still had anything left after that disastrous season
and whether or not he can still be an impact player for the Clippers;
however, much of his poor play had to do with factors outside of his control. During the lockout last summer, Odom lost
his brother prior to the new season starting and the environment in Dallas
was far from what he was used to. In
L.A, he was one of the focal points of Phil Jackson’s triangle offence as he
would bring up the ball, facilitate for his teammates and push the tempo if
need be; however, in Dallas his role was rather limited as he was buried
under a roster of old veterans who were more concerned with getting their own
shots rather than running a more structured offense such as the Triangle.
The Clippers will be a welcomed
change for Odom as he will return to the city where he started his career and
will be playing behind high caliber players in the form of Chris Paul and
Blake Griffin. Along with Odom, the
Clippers added a supported cast of veterans who have a combined 373 games of
playoff experience, 10 appearances in the NBA Finals, and have 9 NBA
Championship rings between them. The
Clippers resigned veteran Chauncey Billups who suffered a season ending ACL
tear, but has now fully recovered and is now looking to prove his doubters
wrong once again. L.A also added
additional firepower in the form of Jamal Crawford and Willie Green known for
their proficiency from beyond the arc and their abilities to put up points in
a hurry. Add six time NBA All Star
Grant Hill along with Ronnie Turiaf who is fresh off of winning a NBA title with the Miami Heat, the Clippers have altogether formidable lineup with
enough winning experience to rival any NBA team.
Expect the Clippers to be on
everyone’s hit list as along with gunning for the top teams in the West, L.A
will also be wearing bright red bull’s eyes on their backs too. With the team that he has now, Chris Paul
can be assured that this Clipper team will do anything to assure him that it
is a viable championship contender.
This especially will speak droves to him once he becomes an
unrestricted free agent at season’s end and will have numerous teams under
the salary cap who will vie for his services.
In their offseason moves, Los Angeles have not only made themselves a
force to be reckoned with this season but for seasons to come as a new
culture of winning and excellence has been infused in a franchise that was
once considered a laughing stock. It
is a new day in the City of Angels as there will not be just one but two
shining stars setting this metropolis alight.
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Thursday, September 20, 2012
SDH's 2012/2013 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 6. Los Angeles Clippers
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