3 Thoughts On The 2016-17 Los Angeles Clippers

With the NBA season getting close, it’s time to take a look at what to expect from the teams around the league. Here are three thoughts about the 2016-17 Los Angeles Clippers.

The Los Angeles Clippers are coming off a season in which they underperformed. Following 2014-15, when they battled the San Antonio Spurs in a series that happened far too early in the playoffs, the Clippers had a good shot at being one of the prime contenders for a championship.

Instead of contending, they dealt with Blake Griffin sitting out much of the season, entering the playoffs as the 5^th seed, and losing in the first round for the first time since 2013. Now, the Clippers are looking to rebound from a disappointing campaign. Here are three concerns heading into the 2016-17 season.

1. Can Blake Griffin Make a Complete Return?

The Los Angeles Clippers struggled with Blake Griffin sitting out for most of the previous year. In December of 2015, he was ruled out from playing with a partially torn quadriceps. In January, he gave himself a ridiculous hand injury after hitting a member of the equipment staff, which was followed by a suspension. Then, in the playoffs, Griffin re-injured his quad.

Nobody doubts how good Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan are. They’re integral parts of the team the Clippers need to win a championship. However, nobody on the team brings the explosive combination of athleticism and skill that Blake does. As a big man, he can close out at the rim or hit the outside jumper. He’s a nightmare for defenders and completely changes how a team plans out its defense. The Clippers will need him at peak performance to have any chance of contending for a title.

2. The Rest of the Team

Although a lot is resting on Griffin’s broad shoulders, let’s not forget that Chris Paul is still one of the greatest point guards in the game. However, he’s on the downward slope of his career. At 31, he’s no longer the young basketball wizard we saw in New Orleans a decade ago. However, he’s still a crafty, skilled player who continues to drop 19 points and 10 assists a game. When necessary, he carries the team, but he’s at an age where that won’t be possible much longer.

At this point, DeAndre Jordan looks to be about what he’ll always be in this league: an athletic rebounder who can create on his own around the rim but remains a liability on free throws. His pairing alongside Griffin is deadly and almost unbeatable on the offensive side.

A little more concern may be necessary for aging starter J.J. Reddick. Reddick’s shooting remains fairly consistent, and he doesn’t have to create for himself when he’s surrounded by players like Paul and Griffin. That’s a good thing for a shooter at his age. What may be harder is for him to keep up with speedier guards on the defensive end.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute fills in at the small forward role. He’s not flashy, and he’s not a scorer. However, at small forward, he plays the invaluable role of defending some of the league’s best. These are guys like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard. Not every player on your team needs to be an outstanding scorer. Luc scores when he has the opportunity, and otherwise plays invaluable defense.

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Maybe the best move the Los Angeles Clippers made was keeping its starting unit together. They’ve had great pickups on the bench that should keep them competitive when the starting five are resting, but L.A.’s chance at a championship is going to depend first on how the triumvirate of Paul-Jordan-Griffin performs.

3. It’s Not the Offense

The Los Angeles Clippers can flat out score, but that’s not what might keep them from winning a title. The bench won’t win the rebound battle or put up solid defense. Coming off the bench, Marreese Speights isn’t going to be snatching down defensive rebounds. He certainly won’t get much on the offensive rebounding end. He’s also not the most robust of defenders.

On the starting unit, even if LRMAM is suitable during the regular season, teams have a lot more time to prepare in the playoffs. It’s hard seeing him stay in the rotation against the best small forwards in the league when he limits the Clippers’ offensive game. In short, bench defense and rebounding will make it hard for the Clippers when the starting five sit down, and they’re going to have difficulties with their starting unit in an era when the small forward still reigns supreme.