5 Bold Predictions for Blake Griffin and the Lob City Clippers

We've finally started to see the potential of "the other" team in Los Angeles. The power and athleticism of Blake Griffin combined with the all around weaving and slashing of Chris Paul has been lighting up the scoreboard and filling highlight reels the whole season.

Not just a two man show, the Clippers also have valuable complements and role players to help carry the load. If the playoffs started today, LAC would be sitting pretty in the No. 2 spot with a 15-7 record.

The Clippers have what it takes to go far this season and are built for future runs. But they will end up surprising and going even farther than expected? Here are some things the Clips will accomplish this year.

The Clippers Will Have Home Court Advantage in the Playoffs

LAC will hold on to the No. 2 seed, giving themselves home court advantage throughout the playoffs. This will be a positive and valuable help to the youthful team, and the Clippers will not squander it. 

CP3 and Griffin Will Both Be Top 5 Candidates for MVP

Both players will jump to the front of the MVP race if the Clippers can continue to win convincingly.

Griffin has some great passers on the team who get him the ball consistently, and if he can hit the midrange jumper more often, he could become unstoppable on the offensive end. 

Paul has always had a penchant for making his teammates better, and that is especially true in Lob City with Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. 

Chris Paul Will Be the 2012 MVP

Generally, prerequisites for winning the MVP include being on a playoff team, while also putting up an attention grabbing stat line.

Chris Paul will have fulfilled both of those requirements as the he and the Clippers will most likely cruise into the playoffs barring a catastrophic meltdown. Being the missing piece that has brought the team together and making them into something more, voters will take notice and give Paul his first MVP Award.

The Clippers and Lakers Will Meet Again in the Conference Finals.

The Battle of L.A. will be reprised again in the postseason with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line. This will be the true test of how far the Clippers have come, because standing in their way will be the one and only  Kobe Bryant and the Laker big men.

The Loss of Chauncey Billups Will Not Ruin the Clippers

Losing Billups for the season definitely hurt, but the Clippers are well placed to recover from that hit.

Guys like Caron Butler, Mo Williams and Eric Bledsoe will help carry some of the scoring load. And if that doesn't end up being enough, there is always the possibility of the Clippers swinging another trade for someone like Ramon Sessions or O.J. Mayo.

Billups was an important piece to LAC's hopes, but there is plenty of depth on the team to remain a top contender in the West.