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Los Angeles Clippers 2014-15 Season Primer: How About The WCF?

Michael Saenz|

October 24, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard

Chris Paul

(3) controls the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

As we continue our NBA preview series, we examine the Los Angeles Clippers

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2013-14 Los Angeles Clippers record: 57-25

2013-14 Los Angeles Clippers MVP: Blake Griffin

Three things I think I know about the Los Angeles Clippers…

  1. Blake Griffin will finally lose the absurd reputation of just being a great dunker.
  2. The Los Angeles Clippers will make a WCF appearance.
  3. Blake Griffin will finish the year as the Clippers’ best player.

Key Additions:

Key Losses:

The Los Angeles Clippers will be a playoff team if…

Health permits. This team doesn’t need a ton to go their way; their talent alone is enough to see them through, into the playoffs. Blake Griffin is going to be his usually really good self, and Chris Paul is going to continue to be a magical point guard. The real season doesn’t start until the playoffs begin for this team, though.

Team Strengths:

Offense.

The Los Angeles Clippers can score the basketball with the best of them. That’s something that this squad is just naturally blessed with – whether it be an alley-oop to DeAndre Jordan or Blake Griffin to and outside, created jumper from Chris Paul. Heck, even Blake has been working on an outside jumper that he debuted during the preseason. Scoring isn’t a problem for these guys. They finished first in the NBA in offensive rating (109.4) last season. It’s the other side of the basketball that gives the Clippers trouble at times.

Team Weaknesses:

Wing defenders.

When push comes to shove, and when the Los Angeles Clippers need to buckle down and play some actual man-to-man championship level defense, there always seems to be one glaring weakness that shines a bit brighter than the others. They don’t have a true lockdown wing defender. LA’s best option is Matt Barnes and let’s face it, he isn’t 27 years old anymore. He’s no longer in his defensive prime anymore. He can’t be asked to cover elite offensive players like James Harden, Kawhi Leonard or Kevin Durant anymore. The Clippers didn’t address that in the offseason and it could come back to haunt them late in the season if they fail to address it in-season.

2014-15 Houston Rockets MVP will be…

Blake Griffin

Season Defining Question:

Can they finally crack the Western Conference Finals?

Best Case Scenario:

60-22

Worst Case Scenario:

50-32

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