Los Angeles Clippers: Are The Clips Title Contenders?

The Los Angeles Clippers had the third best record in the NBA last season with a 57-25 mark which also saw them with the No. 3 seed in the West. Built around a core of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and the NBA”s Sixth Man of the Year — Jamal Crawford, the Clippers were supposed to finally trouble the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder out in the West and potentially win their way to the NBA Finals and perhaps even the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

What actually transpired though was quite extraordinary. The Clippers cruised through the regular season, winning far more games than they lost while also working their way through some injury issues. Blake Griffin seemed to have taken another step towards rounding out his game, Chris Paul looked to be in career form and the complimentary pieces were playing their roles to perfection.

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However, when the postseason came about, things didn’t look as rosy for the Clippers.

The first round of the playoffs was a battle that saw the Los Angeles Clipper and Golden State Warriors duke it out for the full seven games. While the Warriors are a talented team, they are not widely considered title contenders, so to see the Clippers struggle so early in the playoffs was interesting.

Golden State matched up quite well — that’s for sure — but did it show us that the Clippers were a little further off the mark than we were led to believe by their team on paper and their regular season record?

The Oklahoma City Thunder really crushed the Clippers in the second round. It was a 4-2 series, but the Thunder always looked a class above — again. For all the improvement in Griffin’s game, the point guard mastery of Chris Paul and the frontcourt size of the Clippers — they just couldn’t seem to find a way to get to that next level.

They played Kevin Durant well, but couldn’t contain Russell Westbrook, or they could slow down the guards, but someone else would beat them. The Clippers were really lost at the defensive end and while they had a league leading offense in the regular season, it didn’t stand up in the playoffs – when it mattered.

Now, after all the offseason ownership struggles have subsided and the focus is back on basketball, are the Clippers actually good enough to contend or are they perpetually good, but never great?

The roster changes for the Clippers are going to be the first point of analysis. After losing backup point guard Darren Collison to a big-time deal in Sacramento, the Clips went ahead and grabbed Jordan Farmar. Ryan Hollins left the fold and the franchise grabbed Spencer Hawes — a floor-stretching center with great range on his shot and terrific hands.

Glen Davis opted out but re-signed and Willie Green was replaced by Chris Douglas-Roberts. Ekpe Udoh was added as a depth guy and that was about as interesting as it got for Los Angeles.

For a team that failed to get over the Oklahoma City Thunder and who struggled against the Golden State Warriors, did they do enough to ensure they can contend for a title? Have they even improved through these moves or have others in the Western Conference passed them by?

The Thunder arguably addressed their biggest concern by adding Anthony Morrow — an outside shooting specialist. The Spurs will rely on improvement from within — but when you have the likes of Patrick Mills, Kawai Leonard and others that seems plausible. The Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers and even the Dallas Mavericks have all made moves to try and reach the top of the table.

The Clippers appear to be treading water.

Spencer Hawes is the best addition they have made, but he plays the same position as DeAndre Jordan. These two definitely complement each other — Jordan is a defensive specialist with limited offensive ability, while Hawes has a great shot, high IQ and good hands but can’t play defense. Job sharing at the center spot gives the Clippers options — especially late in games where teams were targeting the poor free throw shooting Jordan and sending him to the line, but it doesn’t improve them.

Chris Paul can only do so much and he is at the height of his career right now, so the improvement won’t come from there. Blake Griffin made huge strides last season to become more than just a lob catcher and dunker and Jamal Crawford is always going to put the ball in the bucket.

However, you still can’t see this side winning a title the way they are constructed. Reggie Bullock is a talented but young shooting guard, JJ Redick is serviceable but not spectacular, but that’s about it.

Once all the dust settles and the season starts, we will get a good feel doer just where the Los Angeles Clippers sit in the scheme of things. However, we have been duped by their regular season form before. This year might once again see the Clippers put the “con” in contenders.

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