The LA Clippers State of Address:Future Is Bright, Present Needs Griffin

In life, one could argue, that its best to enjoy a middle-of-the-road existence.  Avoid the highs and lows that life brings.  Isn't that what those people celebrating their 120th birthday always say?

Where that level of stability is valued and possibility necessary for a long life, its basketball death.

In basketball there is the Elite and the Entombed.  The Darlings and the Deplorable.  The Finest and the Forgotten.

At least when you are the entombed, deplorable and forgotten you end up being talked about.  Right New Jersey Nets ?

If the Elite makes up the top three and the Entombed makes up the bottom three then the absolute worst place to be is somewhere in the middle.  Specifically, the bottom half of the middle.

A place affectionately known as "Clipper-Central."

Sure the Clips have spent a lot of time scraping the bottom of the NBA barrel but most recently they have been in that dreaded middle ground.  Not bad enough to have people watch in the way you can't avoid looking at a car accident and not good enough to have people watch for the quality of basketball you play.

Except for a blip in either direction the Clippers have owned the bottom of the middle.

Clipper fans long for the days of 2006 when a team with an identity and swagger took the court.  That team played with passion and took LA by storm. Cassell, Brand, Q. Ross and the gang did the unthinkable, they captured the imagination of a city dominated by another basketball team.

Of course, for every 2006 there is a 1999.  That was a forgettable nine win season.  At least it's an NBA record.  No such thing as bad publicity, right New Jersey Nets?

Teams break out of "Clipper-Central" when they have a plan and a little luck.  The Clippers luck turned from bad to good in the form of Blake Griffin.  Now, do they have a plan?

Dunleavy has put the pieces of this puzzle together about as effectively as he could.  Remember, he signed Baron Davis with the understanding that Elton Brand would be there. 

Brand out, Griffin in.

That equation stalled the team last year and the start of this one due to Griffin's injury.  But if you take a step back and examine this team its hard not to be excited.

The projected starting five of Davis, Gordon, Kaman, Griffin and Thornton looks pretty good.  Of course we don't know who Griffin will be as a player.  Is he Karl Malone 2.0 or Carl Stuchinsky?  Who knows, but when someone as respected around the league like Gregg Popovich is singing your praises its easy to see why the Clippers are excited.

“He’s a monster,” Popovich said “He deserved to be picked where he was picked, that’s for sure. He’s a heck of a competitor.”

Adding Griffin moves Camby to the bench, most likely, where he can bring his defensive energy while working less minutes.  I called him Ponce de la Camby earlier and he certainly has looked ten years younger but 35 is 35, in fact even older in NBA years.

This team is poised to make a run.  Are the playoffs in their future this year?  Its possible.  I'm trying to look at the big picture though.  Playoffs or not, I'm excited about a return to an energetic Clipper team.

A team L.A. can embrace.

A team with a solid starting five and a bench with quality role players.

A team with an identity.

A team that makes the move out of "Clipper-Central". 

Maybe we can call it "Net-Neighborhood" next year?