Predicting the Los Angeles Clippers' Best 5-Man Lineups in 2014-15

One of the most important aspects of coaching in the NBA is determining a team’s best lineups. Doc Rivers and the Los Angeles Clippers will face that challenge early, as multiple new additions to the roster have uprooted Rivers' prominent units from last season.

In fact, according to NBA.com, the league’s fifth highest scoring lineup no longer exists due to the trade of Jared Dudley to the Milwaukee Bucks. Fortunately, the other four players in that unit—Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan—are still on the roster.

New additions such as Spencer Hawes, Jordan Farmar, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Ekpe Udoh, allow the team more flexibility than last season. Now it is up for Rivers and his staff to put the pieces together to find their top five-man lineups.

Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, Matt Barnes, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan

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Definitely the most traditional lineup and likely the most desired starting five that Doc Rivers will implement. These five bring defense, shooting, rebounding, shot creation and hustle all combined in one.

Rivers has made it a priority to develop his young bigs, while dictating to Chris Paul that he increase the tempo. Jordan and Griffin played great last season, even without Paul on the floor. Whether Paul was out there or not the Clippers' offense thrived, resulting in the highest scoring offense in the league.

The key to this unit is that both Paul and J.J. Redick can handle the ball, or they can isolate Griffin and the offense can run through him as easily. Additionally, Matt Barnes provides the hustle, toughness and perimeter defense, while DeAndre Jordan brings rim protection and elite rebounding.

This is absolutely one of the better units in the entire league and one Rivers will heavily rely on.

Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford, J.J. Redick, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan

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Firepower; that is the easiest way to describe this lineup. The addition of Jamal Crawford makes this one of the most difficult units to defend in the entire league. Unfortunately, it will be unsatisfying to watch defensively.

J.J. Redick provides more than enough movement off the ball to confuse opposing defenses. DeAndre Jordan also poses a threat as a pick-and-roll man or by catching lobs from any of the other four players. Meanwhile, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and Crawford can all create their own shots, making this unit difficult to defend, especially late on the clock.

Again, the problem will be Redick and Crawford defending shooting guards and small forwards. More importantly, how often will Doc Rivers even deploy these five together considering the lack of defense? Offensively they will be exciting to watch, but their defensive results will be crucial to this unit’s playing time.

Chris Paul, Jordan Farmar, Jamal Crawford, Blake Griffin and Spencer Hawes

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The loss of Darren Collison this summer seemed to weaken the team’s guard depth. Then Doc Rivers signed Farmar to the exact same deal as Collison last season. Farmar’s shooting and athleticism should fill the void Collison left, but also allows him to play extended minutes next to Chris Paul, if needed.

A backcourt tandem of Paul and Farmar is quite interesting, because of the duo’s ability to switch positions and assignments on either end of the floor. This will allow Rivers to run Paul off screens to get him the ball on the move, something that worked quite well for Paul late last season.

However, the real magic is produced by the offensive flexibility. All five players can shoot the ball, and adding Hawes into the mixture allows Griffin to play one-on-one in the post.

A common theme with these lineups will be the defensive effectiveness. Hawes is an adequate rebounder and shot-blocker, but Jamal Crawford is a poor defender. Farmar and Paul will need to provide plenty of ball pressure to keep this lineup in Rivers' good graces.

Farmar, Crawford, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Griffin and Jordan

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Yes, a lineup without Chris Paul will finish in the team’s top five. Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan will see all the minutes they can handle, even with a legitimate reserve in Spencer Hawes. This lineup, even if only on the floor for a handful of minutes per game, features Griffin, which is why it should be so effective. Griffin excelled last season when the offense ran through him.

Jordan Farmar and Jamal Crawford complement each other quite well, thanks to Crawford's ability to handle the ball and Farmar’s ability to defend point guards and shooting guards. Crawford will be the shot creator in this lineup, but they also should be able to play fast, pushing the ball ahead to Crawford and Griffin.

The signing of Chris Douglas-Roberts was a key late addition, as the team needed depth at small forward. Douglas-Roberts played well for the Charlotte Hornets last season and was the team’s small forward in crunch-time. While he might not close games for the Clippers, his defensive talents are needed.

A solid lineup offensively and defensively, this will more than likely be the five on the floor to close the first and third quarters throughout most of the season.

Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, Blake Griffin, Spencer Hawes and DeAndre Jordan

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Absolutely, positively the oddball lineup, but it would be exhilarating to see on the floor. Should Doc Rivers decide to utilize his size, floor spacing and offensive firepower,  this might be the five he sends out.

The elephant in the room here is Blake Griffin defending and attacking small forwards. Keep in mind Griffin’s defense improved last season, but it would be difficult to ask him to guard the likes of Rudy Gay, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard. Surely, Rivers would only do so in certain situations, but why not try it out a few times in big games to see if it is a viable plan of attack in the playoffs?

Spencer Hawes and DeAndre Jordan seem to pair quite well on paper. Hawes can obviously space the floor for Griffin and Jordan, but he is also a good passer, averaging three assists per game last season. Jordan could use some help protecting the rim, because Blake Griffin is not much of a shot-blocker.

Chris Paul and J.J. Redick would see all kinds of space to attack, considering they can run off screens from three completely unique bigs or force switches in pick-and-rolls. The guards could be lethal at the point of attack, allowing Griffin to be isolated one-on-one on the weak side of the floor.

Perhaps Rivers never experiments with this lineup, but it could prove to be a potent situational matchup if used correctly.