Los Angeles Clippers: 2017-18 NBA season preview

Storyline 3: Can the Clippers stay healthy?

The Los Angeles Clippers are no different from any other team in that a major injury could sink their season. However, the Clippers have a tougher potential injury situation than many teams. Two of their three best players are not only somewhat injury-prone but also completely irreplaceable.

Although Blake Griffin’s injury concerns are frequently overstated (he has missed far more time due to freak injuries than potentially recurring ones), the Clippers cannot weather an extended absence from him as they did last season. He will be the focal point of the offense for the first time in many years, and the Clippers are nowhere close to the playoffs with Griffin out.

While Griffin’s injury concerns are often overstated, Danilo Gallinari’s injury concerns are not. He has played in just 54 percent of his team’s games since the end of the 2012-13 season and only topped 60 games once.

Even though DeAndre Jordan is the closest thing to a healthy lock in the NBA, he is also even harder to replace than Griffin or Gallinari. The Western Conference playoff picture is somehow even more crowded than last year. Any missed time from a Clippers frontcourt player would be enough to sink their playoff chances.