Los Angeles Clippers Season Preview: 10 Questions for the 2011-12 NBA Season

With the additions of Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups, whom have propelled the Clippers to relevancy, it appears that the team is set up to make a run this season. 

However, it is going to take time for them to gel into a winner. 

Few teams make it work the first time like the 2008 Celtics did, and they had some proven vets that were ready to put all individual needs and wants aside to win. 

The 10 questions that follow are things this Clippers team will have to answer if they have reservations for playoff success this year.

1. Can the Clippers handle the hype?

The Clippers have been decent every once in a while, but never before has there been so much hype surrounding this organization. 

It is difficult to handle being a team that other teams get up for, and playing on national TV in big games all the time. 

Can the Clippers step up, seize the moment and win as a team that will not sneak up on anyone? 

I think they can, but this could be an issue.

2. Can the new-look Clippers mesh in their first season?

As already demonstrated in game one, it will take some time for this team to really mesh into a fluid and well-oiled machine. 

Poor shooting and sloppy play was an issue in game one vs. the Warriors, and they struggled to score with consistency in the third quarter. 

3. Is this Blake Griffin’s or Chris Paul’s team?

Everyone will tell you politically that it’s Blake Griffin’s team because he was there already and has established himself as a superstar, but at the end of the day, Chris Paul is still an elite, top-tier player, a born leader and more experienced.  

Fortunately, Blake is not an egotistical player that will get bent out of shape about sharing the spotlight, but he has embraced being a star and he is human, so this is still something to keep an eye on. 

Blake should be the leading scorer, but Chris Paul should end up being the leader of this team and the ball should be in Paul’s hand to close out a game.

4. Can Vinny Del Negro coach this team well enough to make a deep playoff run?

Del Negro got his share of criticism for holding back the Bulls when he was in Chicago as a result of numerous questionable decisions in regards to clock management and use of rotations. 

His players seemed to back him, but he certainly left a bit to be desired as a leader. 

With a team with little experience playing with one another, he has his work cut out for him. 

Talent alone will not win playoff games, so Del Negro is going to need to get the most out of his team for them to be successful.

5. Will the Clippers be the best team in L.A.?

The Lakers have held control the city of Los Angeles since they moved out west. 

They have all of the city’s championships and have always been better than the Clippers.

Only three times in the franchise’s history in L.A. have the Clippers had a better record than the Lakers. 

This looks like it could be the year where fortunes change in L.A.

Kobe Bryant is aging and frustrated with the front office, and in an effort to upgrade their team, their failed attempt to get Chris Paul actually paved the way for the Clippers to get him. 

They lost Lamar Odom and head coach Phil Jackson as well. 

A top four finish in the Western Conference should be better than the Lakers can hope to achieve this year.

6. Can the Clippers stay healthy?

This may be the most important thing for the Clippers.

Their top three players—Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups—have been injury-prone in the past. 

Although Chris Paul played in 80 games last year, he was limited to 45 games in '09-'10 and played through nagging injuries at times last year.  He’s as tough as they come, and does not rely completely on his quickness and athleticism, but it is important that he is healthy to lead this offense. 

Blake Griffin made it through his official rookie season last year, but his reckless style of aggressive and physical play along with the fact that he missed the entire '09-'10 season cannot be ignored.  He hits the ground a lot and last year he was subject to many hard fouls.

Chauncey Billups is not getting any younger. His physical decline has already commenced and he has played less than 75 games the last two years.  He has not missed a significant amount of time, but as is the case with Chris Paul, nagging injuries must be watched out for.

7. Can Chauncey use good shot selection?

Chauncey has never been one to be shy with his shot selection.

On most teams, he has been the first or second option for scoring.  On this team, it is important that he resist the temptation to take too many shots.

Often he has a knack for hitting key, momentum-changing shots that typically would not be classified as good shots.  He will need to find a good balance this year as far as shot selection.

8. Who will step up off of the bench to make a difference?

The Clippers are going to need contributions from their bench during this condensed season.  There is no way that the starters can do all of the heavy lifting. 

Fortunately, the Clippers are blessed with a lot of talent on their bench. 

I am expecting Mo Williams, a player that has been a proven starter in this league, to score in bunches off of the bench and fit in with the first string when he first checks in. 

Eric Bledsoe is a very talented second-year player that is going to break out in the next year or two.  He had his moments as a rookie, and after he comes back from injury, he can spell Billups and Paul.  

Look for Randy Foye to provide some scoring as well.  He is a career double-digit scorer that does not need much time to heat up.  He is a reliable scorer that has averaged as much as 16.3 per game in one season in Minnesota. 

Brian Cook is also a guy that can get you a quick bucket from the perimeter at any point.

9. Will DeAndre Jordan break out this season?

Most people that know the game have already identified Jordan as a guy that could really benefit from playing with Chris Paul. 

He is a raw talent that has great size and athleticism and has shown flashes of brilliance in his brief career. 

His development was slow in his first two years but as he has gotten closer with Blake Griffin and worked a lot with him, there have been some signs of acceleration.  

Tyson Chandler had a decent NBA career going until he got a chance to team up with Chris Paul. 

Singlehandedly, he made him an All-Star-caliber player who was as coveted a free agent as there was this past season. 

Jordan is more athletic and possibly more skilled than Chandler was.  I am looking for Jordan to be at least as effective as Chandler was in New Orleans with Chris Paul. 

Look for Jordan to fill up highlight reels this year, and put up productive numbers as the Clippers' center. 

10. Will the Clippers play good enough defense to win?

At times the Clippers gave up easy baskets to the Warriors in the opener.   

It is going to be important in the long run that the Clippers defend at a high level. 

Only giving up 86 points to a high-powered offense like the Warriors is impressive, but the team will need to keep defensive intensity high throughout the season.