Early Signs That This Can Be the LA Clippers' Year

The Los Angeles Clippers are expected to compete for the NBA title this season, but a few boxes needed to be checked before those expectations can be turned into reality.

Although the Clippers defense looks worse this season, despite Doc Rivers’ new system, the offense looks amazing.

The Clippers were a very good offensive team last season, but this season, they look like the league’s best. Not all the boxes have been checked, but enough have to warrant some early signs pointing to this being the Clippers’ year.

Successful Offense

The Clippers offense was expected to be good, but adjectives such as "lethal," "deadly" and "impressive" are better ways to describe it. While Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have been playing extremely well, just as much credit can be given to JJ Redick, Doc Rivers and Alvin Gentry.

Redick has come out of the gates firing, averaging 17.6 points per game and 48.3 percent from the floor. Redick’s ability to attack off screens and provide action on the weak side of the floor has been vital. He looks like the perfect complement to Paul on offense.

Meanwhile, it has been Rivers and Gentry who have designed an offense that fosters ball movement and creates open shots for everyone on the floor.

There are elements of Rivers’ offense from his Boston Celtics teams, with Redick playing the role of Ray Allen. Gentry has brought the spacing and tempo of his Phoenix Suns teams. Together, they have built the league’s highest-scoring offense.

Chris Paul Looks Spectacular

Regularly considered to be one of the best point guards in the league, Chris Paul is putting together the best season of his career. Paul is averaging 21.3 points per game, an amazing 12.6 assists and a career-high 6.9 free throws.

As mentioned earlier, JJ Redick has opened up the floor for Paul to create and attack. However, Doc Rivers has encouraged his point guard to look to score more often. As a result, Paul is taking 2.5 more shots per game than he did last year under former coach Vinny Del Negro.

Paul has been so efficient offensively that he ranks fourth in the league in player efficiency rating and second in win shares. If Paul plays like this all season, it will surely help the Los Angeles Clippers approach their franchise-best win total from a season ago.

DeAndre Jordan’s Improvement

One player who the Los Angeles Clippers have desperately needed improvement from is DeAndre Jordan. Jordan is exceeding expectations this season, thanks to his improved rebounding and solid defense.

Jordan was frequently removed from games last season due to his foul shooting and his overall lack of impact while on the floor. This season, Jordan is almost impossible to take off the floor, as evidenced by his average of 37.0 minutes per game and the fact that he ranks second in the league in rebounding with an average of 13.7.

If Jordan’s offense and foul-shooting begin to catch up to his rebounding and defense, he could be a major factor for the Clippers this season. Regardless, Jordan clearly looks improved and is flourishing in his new role under Doc Rivers.

The 20-Point, 10-Rebound Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin took a statistical step backwards last season.

Griffin failed to average 20 points and 10 rebounds for the first time in his career. This season, however, Griffin is back to his old ways, averaging 21.7 points and 10.7 rebounds. To make things even better, Griffin is shooting a career-high 58.7 percent from the field.

Griffin has been in attack mode, largely because of his ability to hit the mid-range jumper. He is shooting an impressive 42.5 percent from outside the paint this season. The form, consistency and release on his shot all look improved from a season ago despite the small hitch on his release.

The Clippers are going to need Griffin to continue scoring 20-plus points each night if they want to contend in the conference.

The Creation of Extra Possessions

The Los Angeles Clippers offense is receiving plenty of praise, but one characteristic of the offense that does not receive much attention is how many extra possessions the team is able to create. While the Clippers are playing fast, ranking ninth in pace, they have also been able to limit turnovers (ranking 21st) and grab 12.0 offensive rebounds per game (ninth).

Anytime a team is able to create extra possessions, it strains the opposing defense and makes it more likely that its own offense will score. The Clippers offense is good enough to produce without extra possessions, ranking third in the league at 1.32 points per shot, but the extra possession makes them elite, offensively.

Teams that have slowed down the Clippers have been able to force turnovers and control their own defensive glass. Considering how poorly the Clippers are playing defensively, the extra possessions they create on offense helps mask their deficiencies.