Complete Breakdown and Predictions for L.A. Clippers 2012 Summer League Roster

According to NBA.com, the 2012 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas will feature a record 24 teams competing in a 60-game schedule July 13-22 at the Thomas & Mack Center and the COX Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

The Summer League proves to be a great showcase of amateur players and new NBA faces, so let's take a look at the L.A. Clippers roster and what lies ahead for their schedule.

2012 LA Clippers Summer League Roster:

Talor Battle - PG

Eric Bledsoe - G

Travis Leslie - SG

Cameron Moore - F

Trey Thompkins - F

Can Talor Battle Succeed in the Pros?

As a senior at Penn State during the 2010-11 season, Talor Battle averaged 20.2 points and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 42 percent from the field.

The numbers alone weren't enough to bring Battle to the pros, though, and he went undrafted in 2011 before going overseas to play for France and then Germany.

Now that Battle is on the Clips' summer league roster, can he prove that he deserves to be here? He's small at 6'0" and only 170 lbs, and doubts exist that he can hold his own. If he can get his point totals back to where they were in college, he will be a key player for the team and maybe even attract attention for the regular season.

Current Clippers Players Will Lead the Team

Eric Bledsoe, Travis Leslie and Trey Thompkins are members of the Clippers roster, and they should use the Summer League window to showcase their abilities and solidify their positions on the team.

Bledsoe had a quiet rookie year in L.A., averaging 3.3 points and 1.7 assists per game while only shooting 38 percent from the field. We know from his college days that he can deliver a stronger performance, so I expect him to develop his game a bit more as one of the leaders on the Summer League team.

Leslie struggled last season, and in March, the team sent him to the Bakersfield Jam (Clippers D-League squad) to receive more playing time and gain some depth. Leslie put up decent numbers while with the Jam, shooting 51 percent from the floor and averaging 10.2 points per game.

Moving into Summer League should be a smooth transition for Leslie. Look for him to play with increased confidence and consistency in the backcourt.

Weakness on Defensive End of the Floor

Looking at the Clippers Summer League roster, one thing stands out immediately: Where is the defensive prowess?

Out of the five players listed for the roster, only one really has any numbers on defense, and that is Cameron Moore, an undrafted free agent out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

During his senior year at UAB, Moore drew solid stats across the board, averaging 16.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game.

On paper, Moore is the most well-rounded player on the squad, and this will hopefully give him a chance to prove himself as NBA-worthy.

Having one player capable of rebounding and defending the rim, however, is just not enough. The Clippers have some decent scorers on the Summer League roster, but their lack of aggressive players on defense will definitely show.

Tough Schedule Will Challenge Clips

The following is the Clippers 2012 Summer League schedule (Pacific Time):

Monday, July 16 v. Minnesota - 7 PM

Thursday, July 19 v. LA Lakers - 5:30 PM

Saturday, July 21 v. Chicago - 5:30 PM

Sunday, July 22 v. Boston - 3 PM

In looking ahead at the schedule—with the exception of Minnesota—the Clips are matched up against teams boasting much more depth and larger rosters. L.A., Chicago and Boston each have a more well-rounded variety of international athletes, undrafted free agents and current roster members, and the mere size of their rosters put them at an advantage.

Predictions

1. L.A.'s squad is weak defensively, and it'll have a difficult time going up against larger teams in the Summer League.

2. Talor Battle will excel in the league and will draw the eyes of the big leaguers.

3. Eric Bledsoe and Travis Leslie will solidify their positions on the regular-season roster and further develop their shooting game.

4. The Clippers will go 1-4 for the series, defeating Minnesota on July 16 and then losing three consecutive contests.