Can the Los Angeles Clippers make the playoffs? Yes, they can. And yes, they will.
The Clippers have reportedly agreed to terms with point guard Baron Davis, a bona fide scorer and passer.
If Elton Brand remains a man of his word and signs with the Clippers—leaving $20 million on the table to do so—the Clippers become a perennial playoff team overnight.
With Brand and Davis, the Clippers gain one of the strongest one-two punches in the league. There may not be a more formidable guard-forward combination than these two.
The acquisition of Davis also relieves the younger players on board.
Al Thornton, who blossomed in the latter half of the season, will now be the team's third option, which will allow him to progress at his own pace as he is on course to be a star in the NBA.
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The Clippers had a very solid draft as well, acquiring Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, and Mike Taylor.
Eric Gordon will be an All-Star—it is just a matter of time. He's a play maker; he's a great knockdown shooter and an underrated passer who gets to learn from one of the better scoring guards in the league in Baron Davis.
DeAndre Jordan may have some undeveloped skills, but he's a freak of an athlete who can jump out of the building. He'll be playing behind the new Olympian, Chris Kaman, who will show him how to play effectively on the ground, move his feet, and be a solid defender.
Mike Taylor is a solid ball player who can do a bit of everything and will find his way into the rotation with perseverance and heart—a forgotten intangible in young players.
The Clips still have Cuttino Mobley, Brevin Knight, Tim Thomas, and a bit of maneuvering room to grab a last second contributor or two off the free agent market.
If healthy, Mobley is a solid contributor on both ends of the floor, most noticeably as a knockdown shooter. Thomas, if he finds his stroke, can shoot from anywhere beyond half court and Knight is a solid on the ball defender and excellent passer.
The Clippers will have some roster spaces if they do not re-sign their current free agents. Regardless of who they bring in, LA should be a lock for the playoffs if they can just stay healthy.
The Clippers have a legitimate shot to be more than "the other team" in Los Angeles this year.
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2 months ago
I think Eric Gordon might be a bit overrated, but the Clippers will be good this year. Good stuff.
2 months ago
Yeah he may be overrated (and I'm sure he isn't 6-4), but that makes the Baron Davis pick up even better.
from 2 months ago
For sure, most lottery teams didn't have a guard like Baron that Gordon can learn from. It'll be interesting to see how he develops.
2 months ago
They Clips probably will make the playoffs but i would take Nash and Stoudimire over Davis and Brand.
2 months ago
Playoffs? Playoffs? What playoffs? Are you kidding me? Not unless they move to the Eastern Conference and not as long as Dunleavy has to coach Davis. He'll wish Sterling kept Maggette.
2 months ago
I dont think that the Clippers can make the playoffs, especially since they are in a stacked western conference. If they were in the eastern conference as Paul suggested, it may be a little more reasonable. But, as of now I think you are jumping to conclusions.
2 months ago
Wow... anyone who honestly believes that the Clippers, with a healthy Elton Brand, and Baron Davis will NOT make the play-offs needs to look at the rest of the teams in the West. Brand, Davis, Chris Kaman, DeAndre Jordan, Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, and Shaun Livingston??? Are you kidding me... I don't see anyone stopping them from getting to the play-offs. They have more talent than my beloved Mavericks, the Nuggets, the Warriors, and the Rockets. So to think that the Clipps will not make the play-offs is ridiculous. To think on the same page as the Lakers and finishing in the top 5 in the West, that's realistic. Maybe people have forgotten just how good Baron Davis and Elton Brand really are. Great article by the way.
from 2 months ago
I agree but im not sure about being on the same page as the Lakers. Remember they do have a guy named Kobe Bryant. I see the Lakers, Spurs, Jazz, Hornets, and maybe Phoniex all still be better than the Clips. However, it looks pretty good that they will make the playoffs.
2 months ago
Good article. I can't wait to actually see Brand in action. He should be good@
2 months ago
Clippers will compete with Golden State, Portland and Denver for the 7 and 8 spot at best, if of course Brand and Davis stay healthy. Even so, they'll get bounced in the first round by either the Lakers, Hornets, Jazz or Suns (Depending on which of the aforementioned make up the top two seeds).
If Brand comes back, leaving millions on the table, that will be admirable. However, they're nothing like the Celtics no matter what Brand or Davis think. This team has flaws and plays in a conference that is just too strong.
2 months ago
Lakers projected starting 5...
PG- Jordan Farmar
SG- Kobe Bryant
SF- Lamar Odom
PF- Pau Gasol
C- Andrew Bynum
Clippers projected starting 5...
PG- Baron Davis
SG- Cuttino Mobley
SF- Corey Maggette
PF- Al Thornton
C- Elton Brand
Davis>Farmar (or Derek Fisher)
Mobley (or Eric Gordon) < Kobe Bryant
Maggette = Odom
ThorntonBynum
now I know Kobe is MUCH better than Mobley or any other player in the West, but you have to look at the impact Baron Davis and a healthy Elton Brand have on this already talented team.
Bench players....
Lakers.
Sasha Vujacic
Vladimir Radmanovic
Derek Fisher
Luke Walton
Trevor Ariza
Chris Mihm
Joe Crawford
Clippers
Eric Gordon
Shaun Livingston
Chris Kaman
DeAndre Jordan
Tim Thomas
Brevin Knight
Advantage Clippers.
Coaching however, the Lakers have a HUGE advantage in Phil Jackson
In the end, I really don't think anyone can say the Clippers, right now, are not on the same level as the Lakers heading into this season ( this also depends on what happens during free agency, because if Maggette leaves, the Clipps could be in trouble )
from 2 months ago
As others have mentioned Maggette is leaving. Now, suppose he wasn't for a minute, Your proposed starting front court contains no one taller than 6-8, they would get KILLED on the boards. Kaman is a starter and will start. Shaun Livingston may not be returning to the Clippers and I mean the fact the guy may actually be able to play again is amazing by itself regardless of how he plays. Eric Gordon and DeAndrew Johnson are untested rookies and Tim Thomas is good when he wants to be (which seems to be not often). Brevin Knight is a huge injury concern. I don't consider Brand to be an injury risk, but there is always that psychological factor coming back from a major injury, however he has had extra time to recover and get used to playing again. Baron Davis on the other hand is a large injury concern, he's unlikely to play hurt (though he is capable of it). If the West is even as remotely as deep and talented as this past year, the Clippers would need their stars every night especially with a weak and untested bench.
The Lakers have young players who are developing and have gained several years of playoff experience mixed with veterans mostly in their primes (Gasol, Bryant, Odom), plus they have a high energy and experienced bench. I don't think the Clippers are any where near the Lakers level right now.
2 months ago
Maggette is leaving, he's pretty much out the door already. I hear he would love to return to Orlando but the Spurs are also talking to him. He hasn't been that happy in LA for the past couple of seasons.
I think Chris Kaman (double double) will start over Al Thorton and Derek Fisher will start over Jordan Farmar.
I don't know about the bench being an advantage for the Clips. They have two rookies and Shaun Livingston missed all of last season with a horrific knee injury.
2 months ago
I think Shaun Livingston is also going to be gone, last I heard. Either way, I don't think you can compare a team strictly looking at a roster. (Trust me, being a Redskins fan, I know how pointless matching player for player with other teams can be haha). There is no doubt that the Clippers will be better, but you also have to remember that the system Davis played under Don Nelson was perfect for him.
Mike Dunleavy and the Clippers offense has been a much slower paced system. Last year they were 29th in scoring, though it should be mentioned Brand was out almost the entire time. Still, they ranked 27th in field goal attempts. Field goal attempts are usually a pretty good indicator of the pace of an offense and looking back at Dunleavy coached teams, they have always played their best in half court sets.
I'm sure Davis will help this team and they'll win around 45 games, but being a bottom seed in the West is a major disadvantage. Think about how good LA, Utah, New Orleans, Phoenix, and San Antonio have been at home. Winning a series on the road for the Clips will be too much to expect this upcoming year.
2 months ago
I agree about the play-offs, the Clippers probably wont make it out of the 1st round. But Baron Davis instantly makes them a 4-6 seed caliber team. There's much more talent on this squad than there was on the Warriors
2 months ago
The Clippers and lakers will meet in the western conference finals this year in a 7 game classic. These two teams will battle for years to come like Sac and the Lakers use to.
2 months ago
I highly doubt that.
2 months ago
Now, I don't know about the Clippers in the Western Conference Finals, but the West won't be as wild as it was this past season.
Projected Starting 5 for the Clips should look like:
Baron Davis
Cuttino Mobley
Al Thornton
Elton Brand
Chris Kaman
That's a pretty solid five. They will be competing for one of the bottom half sppots (5-8) in the playoffs and there's no rhyme or reason that they should not make it.
Locks for the Playoffs are: Lakers, Spurs and Hornets. Then one could assume that Dallas will have a better season now that Jason Kidd has had time to adjust and they Mavs are already obscenely more athletic with the additions of Gerald Green and DeSagna Diop.
The Suns are no longer a lock for me, the team is not as fast and the chemistry just isn't there--at least no yet. The Rockets, Nuggets, Warriors, and Blazers are all crapshoots--teams that a healthy Clippers squad should be better than.
The Clips should make the playoffs. If they don't, I couldn't give you a great reason why. Good starting five along with a young, athletic, and talented bench that will be exponentially better as the season progresses... definitely a team that should grab into a playoff spot.
from 2 months ago
I agree they should have a very good opportunity to make the playoffs with that starting lineup. However, I can't say I agree they have a "talented bench". Their bench is headlined by two rookies, injury concerns (Brevin Knight and possibly Livingston should the Clippers retain him) and Mr. inconsistency. I personally feel they have a thin bench and with Baron Davis in your starting lineup (injury concern), you need a deep bench. Also, Elton Brand played some at the end of last season, however will he be to play at the high level he was at before the injury? Thus I agree with your projection of them contending for a playoff spot and that it will only happen if their top 5 (especially Brand and Davis) are healthy. However, I disagree they have a talented bench, I think their most talented pieces are rookies! If the West as tough as last season, a weak bench could really hurt their chances.
about 1 month ago
Now that Elton Brand is gone.... you can disregard the article. Definitely didn't see that one coming.
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