Breaking Down Chris Paul and the New-Look Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers are the buzz of the NBA since they acquired Chris Paul. Paul was not the only offseason acquisition, though. The Clippers retooled 60 percent of their starting lineup and are looking like a team who can contend for the Pacific Division title for the first time since...

Well, for the first time. 

Here's a slide-by-slide breakdown of the Clippers and their newly-shaped roster. 

Vinny Del Negro

The picture above says it all. Is it just me, or does it look like Chris Paul is explaining the finer points of the game to Vinny Del Negro, who is no doubt, struggling to grasp the concept of "the ball is orange." 

Let's face facts here. This is a bit like setting Gilligan loose in the the professor's lab (and yes, that did happen in the movie when they got rescued). 

If there's a way to screw up this grand experiment, Del Negro will find it. He is without question, the biggest flaw with this team. 

The Bench

The individual components of the Clippers bench are decent enough. The problem is, they are a bit small. 

They have an abundance of guards, with Eric Bledsoe, Mo Williams and Randy Foye. They have Ryan Gomes to back up Caron Butler.

I think that picking up Reggie Evans was a great move for them. He's a stout, stout man, a vicious rebounder and a solid defender. If nothing else, they can run laps around his chest for exercise. I mean, he is really stout. 

The problem is, outside of Blake Grififn and DeAndre Jordan, they don't have anyone with real height and experience. They could easily run into problems against bigger lineups, especially if Griffin and Jordan get in foul trouble. 

DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan has a limited offensive game, but those limits are that he'll dunk any pass above the rim. if you're going to have a limited offensive game, might as well make it exciting, right?

One hopes that the arrival of Chris Paul will bring with him a defensive mindset. Actually, Chuancey Billups has a similar mentality, which he learned at the feet of Larry Brown during the glory years in Detroit. 

Jordan has the ability to be a outstanding defensive player. He just hasn't had the dedication. With the right team mentality, he should get the focus, and that should see him greatly improved. 

Caron Butler

Is it just me, or is there a caption contest here?

"Whosa good boy?! You're a good boy! Yesss! Goood boy. You're a good boy!"

Butler brings a nice addition to the team. He's a wing who can do a little bit of everything. He can shoot, pass, rebound and score. Probably what he does best, and most importantly, is score. 

Having wings who can score is just borderline unfair when you consider the frontline on this team. The one question about Butler is whether he can stay healthy. 

Chuancey Billups

Another caption contest. 

Where'd he go? 

"He went THATAWAY!!!"

That's what happens when you get two "point" guards on the court together. 

But seriously folks, having Chauncey Billups on the team was a veritable coup for the Clippers, and contrary to popular conspiratorial whisperings, it wasn't to free up Eric Bledsoe to go. Billups has played the two before, and when he did, he did it fairly well. 

Having Billups on the team makes the Clippers unusually versatile, though it does also make them unusually small in the backcourt as well. 

Blake Griffin

Ole!

Blake Griffin is a potential darkhorse for the MVP. He is coming off the best rookie season by a power forward since Tim Duncan's rookie year. 

Griffin and Paul go together so well that Lob City is aptly named, though I personally think it should be Lob Angleles. 

Griffin has a much more complete offensive game than he gets credit for being. He's got excellent handles for a big man, passes as well as any power forward in the league and has a spot-up jumper. And yea, he can dunk. 

The area it would be good to see him put some work in this year is on the defensive end, though. 

Chris Paul

Little help? Can I get a little help please?

This is pretty much going to be the case for Paul this year. It's his team. He's in a great place and has a fantastic around him to help, but it's going to depend on how much help he gets. If everyone steps into their potential, the Clippers can contend to be this year's Bulls—a team that has the ability to have the best record in the NBA, but will need an offseason together before they can get to the finals. 

Make no mistake about it. Chris Paul has made bad players average, average players good and good players great. Having a team surrounding him of good to great players is not something he's had before. The limits are hard to conceive of what they can do once they've got a year together.