Los Angeles Clippers: 2018-19 NBA season preview
By Luke Swiatek
Storyline 2: Can they be truly successful without a star?
Not until the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons (pictured above) had an NBA team found a high level of success without a real star, nor has any team done so since. If your measure of success is championships, this Los Angeles Clippers team won’t be the one to break that streak either.
That doesn’t mean they won’t still have some success though. For all of his possible shortcomings as a general manager, Doc Rivers is still considered a pretty good coach. He should be able to get the most out of this group, regardless of their lack of major accolades or name recognition.
It’s also a different NBA than it used to be in the past. In the ’90s and before, the NBA was a glorified version of one-on-one. Stars were necessary. Now, for most coaches other than Mike D’Antoni, multiple-ballhandler systems are the norm.
In today’s NBA, it’s expected that even centers will be able to make plays on the move. Systems that incorporate all five players moving as one are generally more successful than those that just involve a stagnant isolation.
The Clippers offense should exemplify that, and they should be able to find a way to turn their depth and positional balance into a major strength.