2014-2015 Review
The Clippers had high hopes for 2014-15, and were on track to one of the best seasons in franchise history. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin were having career years, and they had steamrolled through the season and edged out an impressive series win against the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. Up 3-1 on the Rockets, however, everything fell apart. They couldn’t stop Houston and ended up losing games 5, 6, and 7 by double digits. The collapse sparked big change this offseason as the Clippers look to make a deep playoff run for the first time in ages.
New Additions
Lance Stephenson
The Lance Stephenson express takes its next stop in L.A., as he hopes to turn around his career after a dreadful stint in Charlotte. If the Clippers can get the Indiana version of Lance, then he could make their bench among the most potent in the NBA. However, if he continues to play like he did for the Hornets, he could be a cancer in the locker room that derails their title hopes.
Paul Pierce
On the other end of the locker room character scale is Paul Pierce, who comes over to presumably finish out his career with one final ride into the sunset alongside Doc Rivers. Pierce was instrumental in Washington last season, hitting huge shots and teaching them how to win. For L.A., a team that clearly needed a closer in the playoffs, Pierce could be the X-factor in a way many thought he was no longer capable of.
Josh Smith
Another potential X-factor is Josh Smith, who was on the other side of that 3-1 collapse as a member of the Rockets. Smith proved that he could play both inside and out (when motivated), teaming up with Dwight Howard for an unstoppable one-two punch. Think he won’t do the same with DeAndre Jordan? Think again.
Wesley Johnson
Wesley Johnson is an interesting prospect that played fairly well for the cross-locker room rival Los Angeles Lakers. He is a nice addition on the wing and could play a strong defensive role with his length and ranginess (Is that a word? It is now.). He could play his way into a starting position, but for now let’s pencil him in as a swing player off the bench.
Chuck Hayes
Chuck Hayes is a savvy veteran who will come into the game for 10-15 minutes and provide rebounding and a defensive presence off the bench. This was sorely lacking last season for L.A., and he is a much-needed voice for a team that seemed to be highly combustable at times last season.
Pablo Prigioni
Finally, the Clippers brought in Pablo Prigioni from Houston to bolster their backcourt depth. Prigioni won’t blow anyone away with speed or quickness, but he has a high basketball IQ, and a decent enough shot to keep defenses honest. He can see the floor well and is an adept passer, and most importantly will give the Clippers an option off the bench so they can finally rest Chris Paul a little bit.
Key Losses
Matt Barnes
Barnes is a big loss for this team, as he is not only the ultimate teammate, but also can knock down threes and will willingly defend the other team’s best player. He is infamous for never backing down from anyone, which endears him to teammates and alienates him from fans. With Barnes now in Memphis, Los Angeles will need some of their new additions to fill the void he leaves behind.
Glen Davis
Glen “Big Baby” Davis was a Doc Rivers favorite, but ultimately his talent didn’t earn him a spot on this roster anymore. He was a good bench player at times, and provided energy and timely plays that the Clips will need to fill in. However, it was time for this team to move on, and Davis now looks for a new NBA home.
Biggest Strength
Frontcourt
There is no question that the frontcourt of the Clippers is absolutely dominant, and this offseason they got even deeper. DeAndre Jordan roams the paint on both ends of the floor and would be unstoppable if he could make free throws or develop a couple of post moves.
Joining him is Blake Griffin, a tantalizing athlete who recently developed a nice jumper. Griffin is a go-to scorer and can score from all kinds of offensive looks. His versatility makes him a nightmare to guard. Joining them are Chuck Hayes and Josh Smith, as Smith looks to inherit big minutes off the bench. If he can spell Griffin and link up with Jordan like he did with Howard last season, this frontcourt only got better.
Biggest Weakness
Defense
The Clippers’ offense was among the best in the NBA last season. Their defense, however, was suspect. In their final three games against the Rockets in the playoffs alone, they gave up over 100 points in a loss. Throw in the fact that Matt Barnes is gone and a possible downshift of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin’s minutes, and the defense might be worse. Doc Rivers will have to find a way to get the most out of this team defensively, or this season could turn out to be a bust.
Bottom Line
The Clippers are title contenders this season, defensive issues aside. Chris Paul is one of the best point guards in the league, and if the team had a closer last year they would have faced off against the Warriors in the West finals. Now, they have their closer in Paul Pierce. With improvements from Jordan and Griffin, as well as an improved bench, this team could realistically take the next step towards a title.
Fantasy Slant
Most Overrated: DeAndre Jordan
Jordan will get overdrafted this season because of his stellar rebounding and high field goal percentage. However, in a standard league that includes free throws, he can single-handedly knock you out of winning that statistic. Shooting less than 40% from the line is a surefire way to wreck your chances, and he doesn’t provide enough of the other statistics consistently enough to justify it. He will still give you value, but will most likely go earlier than you should take him.
Most Underrated: J.J. Redick
On the other end is J.J. Redick, who is a largely forgotten portion of this offense. However, he will hit over 2 three-pointers per game and is money from the line as well. His versatility without the ball will ensure that he gets open looks, and he knocks down quite a few of those. He may have more defensive responsibilities this season as well, that could lead to unexpected contributions in the steals category. If he is still around late in your draft, take a shot on Redick.
Biggest Surprise: Lance Stephenson
One way or another, Lance Stephenson will find a way to surprise us this year. I think, in a more stable environment with a strong head coach and veteran presence, Stephenson could have a breakout year. Rivers is known for being a players’ coach, and he should get Lance back on track. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Stephenson bounces back in a big way this season.