Chris Paul Trade: Why the LA Clippers Will Be a Top-4 NBA Playoff Seed in West
After years of embarrassment on the court, the Los Angeles Clippers and their fans finally have something to smile about.
With Chris Paul's acquisition, the Clippers have not only become a lock in the playoffs, but also a guarantee to become a top-four seed in the deflated Western Conference.
First of all, Paul changes the Clippers roster dynamically. They now have a point guard that will facilitate the offense for Blake Griffin and the rest of the team. Paul's high basketball IQ will also aid the team defensively.
It's not just Paul, though. Paul has a stunning supporting cast. The shot-blocking DeAndre Jordan will stuff the paint, Chauncey Billups' experience will be a great asset on and off the court, and Caron Butler's athleticism will provide an unparalleled amount of balance to the team.
Oh yeah, we forgot Blake Griffin. His skill and high-flying ability will have the Clippers on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays on a nightly basis. Aside from his dunks, Griffin is a vacuum when it comes to getting rebounds. He averaged over 12 rebounds per game last year showing that he's more than just a highlight reel.
Not only is this team quick with Paul, they have strength up front and the veteran intangibles with Billups and Butler.
Because of the Clippers' losing culture, people might shy away from the fact that the Clippers are a scary team. Remove the name "Clippers" from this roster and they look like a team that can host a playoff series in the first round and win it.
From top to bottom, they have the best lineup on paper in the Western Conference.
Dallas just lost Caron Butler and Tyson Chandler. Dirk Nowitzki is already old and Lamar Odom isn't the type of player who is going to lead a team to a championship because of his inconsistencies which were well-documented when he was with the Lakers.
Memphis and Portland are both young teams that will improve from last year, but they are at best a collection of solid players. Neither of them have two stars like the Clippers do in Griffin and Paul.
San Antonio is another team that will be in the hunt but the story with them for the last several years has been that they are in aging team that gets exhausted in the playoffs. With a condensed schedule in place this season, it won't be too shocking to see the Spurs not in the top four.
The Lakers, on the other hand, gave up Lamar Odom for nothing. Andrew Bynum is injury-prone and Pau Gasol is nowhere near as tough as Blake Griffin is. The one piece keeping them afloat is Kobe Bryant. It doesn't matter how old Kobe is, he's still going to be one of the most effective players in the league.
When comparing the two lineups, it seems like a wash between the Lakers and Clippers. However, the Clippers' advantage in being a younger team will help them in the long run in a condensed season.
The Lakers are also in a state of malaise. Kobe is still confused on why Lamar was dealt. They don't have an answer at point guard and they no longer have big-time head coach Phil Jackson. The Lakers have more questions than answers heading into the season.
The only other team that can stack up with the Clippers are the Oklahoma City Thunder.
They have two great stars in Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. They are deep down low with Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins. Their core can match the Clippers and they are definitely a threat to win the NBA title.
That being said, in terms of the Clippers getting a top-four seed this season or even winning the Pacific Division title, they have an awesome shot in turning in a phenomenal season.
