BoxScore Geeks' 2014 Los Angeles Clippers Preview

The Numbers

  • Average Seed
    5
  • 📉 Pessimist
    44.4 wins
  • Realist
    52.5 wins
  • 📈 Optimist
    60.7 wins
First Seed
 
10.0%
Division
Top 4
👍 Over (56.0)
👎 Under (56.0)
🎀 Playoffs

The Brief

It would seem like it's finally the time for the Clippers to shed their history of losing and reach the pinnacle of the NBA. The racist owner is gone. They've become the big brother in their city that beats up on their Staples Center roommate.

The Story

In NBA history, the city of Los Angeles has been home of the league's Yin and Yang. On one side we've had the Clippers, a poorly run team with one of the worst records in history. On the other side we've had the Lakers, the pinnacle of success. In the last few years, these two teams have swapped spots. Last season saw this hit its peak. The Clippers are a legitimate contender, who were several assists from NBA refs away from the conference finals.

Last Year

  • Actual Wins: 57
  • Expected Wins: 60.7
  • Lucky Wins: 2.1
Player Minutes Age WP48 Wins
DeAndre Jordan 2,870 26 0.323 19.3
Blake Griffin 2,863 25 0.169 10.1
Chris Paul 2,171 29 0.335 15.2
Jamal Crawford 2,094 34 0.066 2.9
Darren Collison 2,069 26 0.135 5.8
Matt Barnes 1,735 34 0.107 3.9
Jared Dudley 1,729 29 0.045 1.6
J.J. Redick 987 30 0.126 2.6
Willie Green 869 32 -0.032 -0.6
Ryan Hollins 482 29 0.080 0.8
Reggie Bullock 395 23 -0.018 -0.1
Hedo Turkoglu 392 35 0.104 0.9
Glen Davis 308 28 0.007 0
Antawn Jamison 248 38 -0.115 -0.6
Danny Granger 194 31 -0.003 0
Byron Mullens 167 25 -0.160 -0.6
Stephen Jackson 107 36 -0.168 -0.4
Darius Morris 54 23 -0.161 -0.2
Sasha Vujacic 10 30 -0.251 -0.1
Maalik Wayns 9 23 0.344 0.1

Indicates that the player is no longer with the team.

  • 60.7 total Wins Produced
  • 8 players leaving
    (5812.0 minutes, 6.3 wins)

The Clippers have a pretty simple recipe for success, have one the best point guards in history with the top center in the league. Again, they are definitely copying the Lakers. Tack on a maturing Blake Griffin and this team was a force. Again, they were a few bad calls in the playoffs from making it a step closer to the finals. Everything isn't perfect with the Clippers. It's hard to go wrong with such a strong core of players. However, pieces like an ancient Chauncey Billups, a terrible Glen Davis, and Antawn Jamison?? If the Clippers got a slightly better scout, they could be even more amazing. With the strength of the west, they may need it if they ever hope to get to the finals.

This Year

  • Projected Wins: 52.5
  • Conference Rank: 3
  • % Playoffs: 82.1
Player Position Minutes Age WP48 Wins
Blake Griffin 4.0 2,270.2 26 0.166 7.8
Chris Paul 1.0 2,243.1 30 0.311 14.6
DeAndre Jordan 5.0 2,106.5 27 0.209 9.2
Matt Barnes 3.0 2,044.4 35 0.082 3.5
J.J. Redick 2.0 1,887.7 31 0.161 6.3
Jamal Crawford 2.0 1,329.0 35 0.112 3.1
Spencer Hawes 5.0 1,326.4 27 .076 2.1
Glen Davis 4.0 1,249.4 29 0.016 0.4
Jordan Farmar 1.0 1,167.5 28 0.109 2.6
Chris Douglas-Roberts 3.0 1,093.7 28 0.129 3.0
Ekpe Udoh 4.5 788.4 28 -0.079 -1.3
Reggie Bullock 2.5 621.9 24 0.097 1.3
C.J. Wilcox 2.0 574.8 30 -0.013 -0.2
Jared Cunningham 1.5 542.8 24 -0.073 -0.8
Joe Ingles 3.0 434.2 27 0.094 0.8

Indicates that the player is new to the team.

  • 📅 55.4 WP last year
    by these players
  • 🔀 -5.0 WP (roster changes)
  • -.4 WP (age/experience)

The Clippers are a little weaker than last season. Jordan Farmar is a decent replacement to Darren Collison. Of course, the Clippers are pretty much a three man team with Paul, Griffin, and Jordan. They didn't really improve their teams depth, and they have a lot of aging players. Even without the Lakers, the Pacific division is going to be tight. The Clippers are going to need to hope their big three stay healthy. It's possible, but unlikely that some of their bench will improve in performance. Clippers fans can expect another winning season, but it may not be enough in a very tough division and conference. 

The Wrap

Three consecutive fifty win seasons would be an amazing turnaround for the Clippers. Griffin and Paul are signed for the longterm. Hopefully Ballmer, who just spent two billion dollars to acquire the Clippers, won't flinch at paying DeAndre Jordan to stick around. The Clippers have the title of the best team in Los Angeles; we'll see if they can hold onto it for a while.

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