Los Angeles Clippers Futility: Are They the Worst Team Ever?
The Los Angeles Clippers always have to go and ruin everything, don't they? First my hopes and expectations; now my article.
Just three games ago, the Clippers were a pitiful 1-13, on pace to possess the worst record in the history of the NBA, a scarlet letter currently worn by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers. Although the eye test told me they were not the worst team ever, their futility was unbelievable and alarming.
So I decided to get to the bottom of this quandary, researching the league's historically inept teams and see how LA compared statistically. I wanted to determine whether it was justifiable to preemptively place the Clips in the pantheon of losers.
Unfortunately, due to the general hubbub surrounding Thanksgiving—family and friends in town, good food abounding, so much sports to watch—it took me longer than planned to complete my investigation. In the meantime, those confounding Clippers embarked on a two-game winning streak that has made them seem, if not invincible, then at least respectable.
Worst team ever? No way. They might not even be the worst team in California. (May I introduce you to the disaster in Sacramento, and I'm not talking about state budget cuts.)
Still, to indulge myself after all the hard work and provide an interesting point of reference, I have chosen to produce the study. Remember, Clipper Nation, you're not out of the woods quite yet. Your team is possibly just a Chris Kaman or Baron Davis return away from another free fall.
After returning to their losing ways last night against the Phoenix Suns, the Clippers are now projected to finish 14-68. Here, we will examine every team that has failed to win 15 games.
To measure ability and effectiveness on both sides of the ball, we will look at offensive rating (ORtg) and defensive rating (DRtg)—points scored and allowed per 100 possessions—as well as points per game differential and record after 17 games. Rather than give exact numbers for ORtg and DRtg, I am only including league ranks, which should normalize for the era in which teams played. This way, the three-point line, shot clock and how the refs were calling the game will not distort the findings.
2010-11 LA Clippers
Point diff -7.2; ORtg seventh to last; DRtg second to last; started 4-13.
1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers
9-73; Point diff -12.1; ORtg/DRtg unavailable; started 1-16.
1992-93 Dallas Mavericks
11-71; Point diff -15.2; ORtg last; DRtg last; started 2-15.
1997-98 Denver Nuggets
11-71; Point diff -11.8; ORtg second to last; DRtg last; started 2-15.
2009-10 New Jersey Nets
12-70; Point diff -9.1; ORtg last; DRtg sixth to last; started 0-17.
1986-87 LA Clippers
12-70; Point diff -11.4; ORtg last; DRtg last; started 3-14.
1993-94 Dallas Mavericks
13-69; Point diff -8.7; ORtg last; DRtg fourth to last; started 1-16.
2004-05 Atlanta Hawks
13-69; Point diff -9.8; ORtg second to last; DRtg second to last; started 3-14.
1996-97 Vancouver Grizzlies
14-68; Point diff -10.2; ORtg last; DRtg third to last; started 2-15.
1982-83 Houston Rockets
14-68; Point diff -11.6; ORtg last; DRtg fifth to last; started 3-14.
Wow these teams were awful! You would think that professional players could never comprise teams this bad, but I guess some squads just don't work at all.
So which one is the worst? Take your pick, but I'm going to have to go with the 1992-93 Mavs. They only won 11 games, had an astronomical margin of defeat and were the league's least effective group on both sides of the ball. By comparison, this year's Clippers are practically All-Stars.
What seems to really separate the Clippers is their lack of complete offensive futility. They are only 24th in the NBA in offensive rating, whereas all the other teams on this list resided in the league's bottom two.
The Los Angeles Clippers are clearly not the worst team ever. You would think this result would make me relieved or optimistic, but it just makes me disappointed yet again. If you're going to be bad, Clippers, at least be historically bad. That would be way more fun than this tantalizing almost-impotence.
Like typical Clippers, though, they can't even stink with the best of them.
