Los Angeles Clippers: It's Time To Move Past Dunks and Appreciate This Team

Ok, I've had enough.

I'm not mad at anyone, but enough is enough. It's time for the Clippers and their fans to move past this phase. It's time to stop talking about Blake Griffin and his dunks.

I am as excited as the next guy that one of the most exciting players in the NBA wears a Clippers jersey. It's been amazing to see him, and by association, the Clippers represented so prominently.

It's nice to see videos of him here on B/R generating almost as many readers as the most recent WAG pictorial. I get it, the kid can dunk and does it in a way that generates lots of Oooohs and Ahhhhs.

It's time to see past just that Clipper fans.

I know what I'm about to say has rarely been said so it may sound foreign or unintelligible, but the truth is, this Clipper team is pretty good!

Sure, their record doesn't seem to match up with that statement, but its true in spite of the wins and losses. This team is good.

Lets start by digging a little deeper into the numbers. Wins and losses are nice, but not the only indicator of the success or failure of a team. 

In October, the team was 0-3. They averaged 87 points per game and gave up 102. Ok, so it didn't start out all that great. Matter of fact, the numbers in October tell an even uglier story. Each loss was a double-digit beat down. The Clippers lost by an average of almost 15 points each time they suited up in October.

Scary month.

In November, the team didn't fare much better.

With Baron Davis and Chris Kaman missing significant time, this was a month the rookies got their chance. They went 3-12 that month. And while scoring an average of 99.7 points per game was a positive, giving up 105.7 was a negative.

Once step forward, two steps back.

Digging a little deeper into the numbers though leads us to a nugget. While they were losing by 15 points in October (14.6667 to be exact), in November the team's 12 losses were by an average of 10 points (10.5833 to be exact).

Start the parade down Figueroa!

I realize this isn't exactly anything to get super excited about, but it is progress! It gets a little better. The team's three wins in November brings their cumulative average points for/points against to -6. 

So, quick recap. October, 0-3, losses by an average of 15 points and a cumulative points for/points against of -44. Ouch. November brought a 3-12 record, losses by an average of 10 points and a cumulative average points for/points against of -6. 

November was a month of progress and Thanksgiving for the team.

Ha, sorry, that was pretty cheesy, but I used scary for October, so it seemed kinda necessary to throw out a Thanksgiving reference in November.

Forgive me?

Now, the team is as healthy as they have been, the rookies have been indoctrinated and the team has had time to gel. December is the month to continue this positive trend. So far, so good.

December has seen the team go 2-3. Their average loss is only by five points. Their December cumulative points average for/points against is -0.6.

Ho, Ho, Hooray for December!!

In addition to the team's progress, the Clippers have some very good, young players. The Miami Heat have proven, if nothing else, that having the best players isn't enough. Chemistry and coaching really do count.

The Clippers may not have the best individual players, but the ones they have are pretty darn good. They may not be the best team, but they are making strides in the right direction.

In short, this team is more than a Blake Griffin dunk that makes LA loopy.

This team is good, it has potential and it is improving. I think it's time to concentrate more on that and less on BG's ridiculous throw-downs.

Now, if (or when) he catapults over someone in a game like Vince Carter (who, by the way is one of the greatest in-game dunkers ever, duh), or shatters a backboard like Darryl Dawkins, then lets talk. But until then, it's time to move on. Are you ready to let it go and enjoy your team Los Angeles?

December could be a season of really good tidings for the Clippers and sure, some more monster dunks.