NBA Offseason: Clippers Climbing Up The Western Conference Ladder

 Several NBA teams seem to be looking to uprgrade their respective ballclubs after disappointing seasons: Toronto-Indiana, Minnesota-Memphis, Nets-Bucks.

And now to no one's surprise, the Los Angeles Clippers have joined in on the fun.

After several key acqusitions and releases, the Los Angeles Clippers seem to be turning things around in a positive direction.

Here is how I view the new and improved Los Angeles Clippers:

PG Baron Davis

2007-08 Season Numbers: 21.8 PPG , 7.6 APG, 2.3 SPG

Baron is one of the deadliest, strongest, and fearless point guards in the game today, evident by him being the only other point guard in the NBA, not named Chris Paul last season to average 20+ points per game at the point guard position.

Some had written Davis off as a unhappy underachiever, but after rebirthing the Golden State Warriors leader in the in the Western Conference, many have hopped back on Baron's bandwagon.

Davis newly signed a 5 year-$65 million with his hometown team, the Los Angles Clippers, after going to college at UCLA.

SG Eric Gordon

2007-08 Season Numbers at Indiana: 20.9 PPG, 2.4 APG, 1.3 SPG

Gordon was one of the many successful freshman in the College Basketball last season, and was early on favored as the Freshman of the Year before a brute named Micheal Beasley rose to primetime.

Eric can drive, play with his back to the basket, and can flat out shoot the ball, making 33.3% of three point baskets last season at Indiana.

Also with the addition of Baron Davis, he won't have to convert to point guard and will be in his own skin at the two position.

Gordon is also very strong and compact, which will be a bouns as he battles against more experienced competition in his rookie year.

SF Al Thornton

2007-08 Season Numbers: 12.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.2 APG

After being drafted out of Florida State, Thorton stepped in nicely after the departure of veteran traveler Tim Thomas.

Al was inserted into the staring line-up in late March, and brought with him energy, intensity, and a will to win.

Thornton was named to NBA's All Rookie First Team and has a career high of 39 points which he set against the Grizzlies in the later stretch of the year

PF Elton Brand

2007-08 Season Numbers: 17.6 PPG, 8 RPG, 1.9 BPG

Brand's numbers are deceivng considering the fact he only played in a total of 8 games last season after rupturing his left achilles tendon last offseason.

When healthy, Brand is one of the best in the NBA at the power forward position with a career average of 20.3 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 2.7 APG tp prove it.

Sir Elton is the Clippers franchise leader in offensive rebounds with 1,480, a 2-time NBA rebounding champion in 2000 and in 2002, and was a member of the 2006 FIBA World Championships squad.

He also was the 2000 Co-rookie of the year along with Steve Francis.

I wonder who's had the better career?

C Chris Kaman

2007-08 Season Numbers: 15.7 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 2.8 BPG

The most surprising player on the Clippers roster last season, had to be 7-0 265lb, newly Germanized: Chris Kaman.

Kaman had a montser year last season eclipsing 9 different categories last season and thus replacing them all with new career highs. With points, rebounds, blocked shots, free throw shooting, and field goal percentage being the most significant numbers of the bunch.

If not for David West and Amare Stoudemire, perhaps Chris would have found a spot on the Western Conference All Star team.

Bench: C Deandre Jordan

Scouts have said there is much resembalance to Dwight Howard in terms of playing styles , and I couldn't agree more.

While Jordan only averaged 7.9 PPG, 6 RPG, and 1.3 BPG, he has shown moments of freakish athlectism that NBA teams love too see.

With a team like this, expect the Los Angeles Clippers to be heading back to the NBA Playoffs, for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

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