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This is my second installment in the Pacific Division chapter of my NBA 2009 Season Prediction Series. Up now at the free throw line, the Los Angeles Clippers...

NBA 2009 Season Prediction: The Los Angeles Clippers

by Cameron Jerde (Analyst)

11

994 reads

Preview/Prediction

August 26, 2008


This is my second installment in the Pacific Division chapter of my NBA 2009 Season Prediction Series. Up now at the free throw line, the Los Angeles Clippers.

Much like their in-state and division rivals the Golden State Warriors, the Clippers franchise has been marked by relocation, inconsistency, and ill-fated seasons. Every Clipper fan wonders what would have happened if Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston had been healthy all season.

Clipper fans also need to wake up to reality. The core of their team has departed. Brand, Maggette, and Livingston are no longer on the team. That being said, it comes time to analyze the team's current roster and moves in the so-called "Rebuilding Offseason."

Losing your best two players to free agency and your brightest rising star to injury can be quite the letdown. But it seems as though the Clippers' front office has done away with most of that.

The Clippers have signed veteran PG Baron Davis to a five-year deal. When you add Davis to the two remaining starters from the Clippers' conference semifinal finish in 2005-06, Cuttino Mobley and Chris Kaman, your nerves can be calmed slightly.

Also add probably the best defensive big man in the NBA, Marcus Camby, to your starting lineup, and you've got something cookin'.

This Clippers' roster is particularly PG heavy. Davis, Gordon, Hart, and Williams will all be competing for playing time this season. It looks as if the Clippers have got their bet on Eric Gordon, as evidenced by Jason Williams' one-year contract.

This roster does have a great mix of young talent, veteran leadership, knowledge, experience, and some decent coaching. But this is the first year this team will play together, so kinks and bugs will need to be worked out.

Here is my projected starting lineup for the Los Angeles Clippers:

PG: Baron Davis

The key with Davis is for him to stay healthy. He has been injury prone in recent years.

If Davis can stay healthy all season, like he did with the Warriors during their improbable conference semifinals run in 2006-07, then the Clippers could be looking at being eighth seed contenders. All playoff and championship teams start with great point guards.

SG: Cuttino Mobley

As one of the two remaining starters from the 05-06 season, Mobley provides playoff experience and knowledge to a relatively young squad.

SF: Ricky Davis

Although he has character issues, he will be the starter until the Clippers can find someone better. He should not be in their long-term plans.

PF: Tim Thomas

Tim Thomas knows how to play against division rival Phoenix. He was on the team that eliminated the Clippers in the 05-06 conference semifinals in seven games. He provides playoff experience and knowledge to the team.

C: Marcus Camby

Arguably the best defensive player in the NBA. Move over, Chris Kaman.

Second Team:

PG: Jason Hart/Eric Gordon/Jason Williams

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11 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Stephane Morneau 10 months ago

    Hum,

    Camby & Kaman will start alongside, Camby will play the PF probably.

    Thornton, if not the starter at the begining of the season, will start at the SF and move over Ricky Davis at the SG to play Mobley from the bench as swing guard sixth man.

    Not a bad read but could have used a little more research.

    Keep up the good work though...

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  2. sam iam 10 months ago

    WOW, just wow!

    Mike Taylor is a Point Guard not a Small Forward.
    Eric Gordon is a Shooting Guard not a Point Guard.
    Al Thornton is a 3 not a 4

    Camby will be playing the 4 next to Kaman at the 5, which means Kaman will not be a "bad apple" coming off the bench.

    Stick to writing essays, not sports... you have no idea what you are taking about as shown in your lack of knowledge with the players on this roster and which positions they play.

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    • phil ahn 10 months ago

      I agree, first half was just obvious facts that doesn't really say anything significant or substantial, second half with the mindlessly predicted roster lineup just goes downhill.

      Why in the blue HELL would the Clippers put their best player (who was NOT Maggette) from last season on the bench? Camby can very easily move to his more natural PF spot, and Ricky Davis should never start (let alone be) on any basketball team, whether it's WNBA or Pee Wee.

      Mobley will probably lose his starting spot to Gordon by mid-season.

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    • Cameron Jerde 10 months ago

      i know that taylor is a PG not a SF, but really there is nowhere else on the lineup where he could fit. The team is just completely undersized

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  3. Sean Fekete 10 months ago

    When there's no room for an extra PG it doesnt mean you move him to SF; your logic is all messed up. Mike Taylor will either be on the bench or be cut from the squad. And then you mention the team is completely undersized - wow! First off, the Clippers have two of the better centers in the league in Kaman and Camby, plus they resigned 7 footer Paul Davis and Drafted 7 footer DeAndre Jordan who may be very green but has plenty of potential.

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  4. kirby carlisle 10 months ago

    Kaman not in the starting 5!!!!!!!!!!!. You have not done enough or you don't know enough about the Clippers. Tim Thomas for god sake is way past been a starter when the roster is healthy.

    Try Davis, Mobley, Camby, Kaman and Thornton and you might be close

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    • Chris Colman 10 months ago

      huh? Thornton at the 5?

      Try Davis, Mobley, Thornton/Ricky Davis, Camby and Kaman, Ricky/Thornton coming off the bench

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  5. Alex Joboulian 9 months ago

    DEPTH CHART

    PG Davis Williams Hart

    SG Mobley Gordon Taylor (he's a combo guard)

    SF Thorton Davis Thomas (if necessary)

    PF Camby Thomas Skinner

    C Kaman Davis Jordan

    I feel confident in this starting lineup and I agree with Phil about how Gordon should take over for Mobley as the starting SG at some point in the season.
    I am a big fan of Al Thorton and I think their is no way Davis starts ahead of him, as Thorton paired with Gordon, are two players that are key to the Clippers success in the future.

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  6. Duncan Cameron 9 months ago

    whatever happens a lot depends on how well and quickly gordon adapts to the nba. obviously he is very likely to become a far better guard than mobley and if he progresses well he should be stealing the minutes from mobley in no time.
    the PF and C are obviously extremely well covered by a stepped up kaman and extreme presence in camby.

    i think the main concern is easily the SF slot and i think if al thornton makes similar progress to last season we shouldn't have a lot to doubt there. i feel ricky davis provides adequate cover off the bench.

    and think about our point guard. we have arguably one of the best point guards in the league in baron davis. jason williams is extremely gifted in te passing and if he can get kaman and camby to work some real chemistry could go on there. and jason hart is not a bad guard either!

    so think of it this way

    the most important two positions : PG and C (lok at nash/staudamire, wade/shaq etc)

    they are sorted with B DIDDY and KAMAN/CAMBY

    the less imortant roles are backed up by very AND YOUNG DEVELOPING strong players.

    so not only should we fair well this season, but the squad will improve rapidly and in the next few seasons i think a lot will be seen from the clippers.

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  7. Alex Klynstra 8 months ago

    PG- Baron Davis
    SG- Cuttino Mobely
    SF- Al Thorton
    PF- Marcus Camby
    C- Chris Kaman

    second unit:
    PG: Jason Hart
    SG: Eric Gordon
    SF: Ricky Davis
    PF: Tim Thomas
    C: Brian Skinner/DeAndre Jordan

    expect to see Gordon take the starting 2 midway through the season. this team does have some depth to there roster, but dont expect them to make the playoffs right away. Baron will undoubtly take the leader and top scorer role right away with Kaman as a second option and the low post scorer. Camby will help supply with his defensive presence down low and mobely,gordon,davis and thomas will add some possible shooters for davis to feed off. Also al thorton should develop nicely this year into a full time starter

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