2012/13 NBA season previews: Los Angeles Clippers

For so long the laughing stock of the NBA, the Los Angeles Clippers made real strides last year in ridding themselves of their unfortunate perception throughout the league.

It all started with their off-season trade for All Star Chris Paul, arguably the best point guard in the NBA.

This season, the Clippers aim to build on their promising 2011/12 season, and hope that in winning the NBA championship, they’ll have the last laugh at all those who have joked at their expense for what seems like decades.

Three biggest questions for the Clippers in 2012/13:

Is Blake Griffin more than just a highlight reel?

The criticism that Blake Griffin cops is sometimes a little hard to fathom. Here is a young guy who plays hard, can jump out of the gym, dives for loose balls, takes charges, is a strong and willing rebounder, listens to his coach and senior players, has come back from missing his entire rookie year to injury, and seems like a nice kid.

And yet he still hears disparagement that he’s just a dunker, is prone to flopping, complains to referees too much, doesn’t play defence, and hasn’t improved in his two years in the league.

It does seem like some people are just too hard to please.

Yet if you delve a little deeper, you discover that perhaps the knockers have a point, especially when it comes to his development.

After averaging 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds as a rookie, those averages dipped slightly to 20.7 and 10.9 in his second year. More dramatically, his free throw percentage fell from 64% to 52%.

A lot of NBA anomalies last year were attributed to the lockout-shortened season, and Griffin also played two minutes less per game, so I’m willing to cut him some slack for his apparent slight drop off.

However, he does require improvement to his game, in particular his jumpshot, free throw shooting, and low-post moves.

What’s interesting is that all three are things that can be easily improved with more hours in the gym. Which means we should know early in his third season whether Griffin is motivated by being a great dunker, or a great player.

Did the Clippers roster improve enough in the off-season?

On paper, the addition of Lamar Odom, Jamal Crawford, Matt Barnes, Ronny Turiaf and Grant Hill looks like a masterstroke. Experience, scoring, versatility and toughness.

However, the new players don’t come without some serious concerns.

Odom was a complete head-case in Dallas, and the Mavericks couldn’t wait to get rid of him. Crawford can shoot you in, and out, of games. Barnes looks tough and is tough, but contributed little else to the Lakers. Turiaf can’t seem to stay healthy. And lastly, Hill will be 40 years old when the season tips off.

There is no question the Clippers have added a lot of nice pieces to a side that progressed to the second round of the playoffs last year. But those pieces certainly come with a lot of questions marks.

Even allowing for an improved roster, the team is still controlled by Vinny Del Negro. To say the jury is still out on the coach’s ability and tactical nous would be a major understatement. In fact, any improvement to the playing squad could be negated by Del Negro’s strange substitution patterns, and lack of X and O’s.

Will Chris Paul stay with the Clippers past the 2012/13 season?

Technically, whether Paul stays with the Clippers next season shouldn’t be a question for this year. However, it would be naive to think it’s not a sub-plot for the Clippers this season.

Paul is a free agent at the end of the season and the Clippers have already attempted to re-sign him, but Paul turned down their three year $60 million contract.

Yet far from it being a sign that he’s leaving, it was actually a smart play by the point guard because he can earn more money by holding out, and it also gives him a full year to analyse the long-term potential for this team.

And that’s where it gets interesting.

The NBA trade deadline is February 21, 2013. Should the Clippers be struggling approaching that date, with their new roster failing to reach its potential, it’s more than conceivable that the Clippers will consider trading Paul, to avoid the risk of losing a disgruntled All Star for nothing in the off-season.

Which means the Clippers can’t afford a slow start to the season.

Los Angeles Clippers Snapshot:

Last season:
Regular Season:
– 40 wins, 26 losses
– Finished fifth in the Western Conference, and second in the Pacific Division

Playoffs:
– Lost 4-0 to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semi-finals

Statistical leaders in 2011/12:
Points: Blake Griffin (20.7 ppg)
Rebounds: Blake Griffin (10.9 rpg)
Assists: Chris Paul (9.1 apg)

Major additions:
Lamar Odom, Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill, Matt Barnes, Runny Turiaf

Major losses:
Nick Young, Randy Foye, Mo Williams, Kenyon Martin, Chris Wilcox

Coach:
Vinny Del Negro
Career Record: 154 wins, 158 losses

Predicted finish in 2012/13:
Regular Season:
– 4th in the Western Conference
– second in Pacific Division
Playoffs:
– Lose in the Western Conference semi-finals