Topics: Austin Rivers, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Cole Aldrich, David West, DeAndre Jordan, Glen Davis, J.J. Redick, Jamal Crawford, Josh Smith, LaMarcus Aldridge, Lance Stephenson, Matt Barnes, Paul Pierce, Spencer Hawes, Wesley Johnson, 2015 NBA Offseason Reports, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA.
Over the next 10 weeks, CBSSports.com's Eye On Basketball will
take a team-by-team look at the 2015 NBA offseason. We continue with the
Los Angeles Clippers.
The Clippers are trying to erase the memory of last year's collapse against the Houston Rockets, and for a moment, it looked like that wouldn't be possible. DeAndre Jordan was gone, and then he was back, bringing with him hope that Los Angeles can take the next step. Will this be the year where Chris Paul and Blake Griffin finally break through in the postseason?
Key Additions
DeAndre Jordan (re-signed after free agency fiasco), Paul Pierce (free agent), Lance Stephenson (trade), Josh Smith (free agent), Austin Rivers (re-signed), Wesley Johnson (free agent), Cole Aldrich (free agent)
Key Losses
Matt Barnes (traded to Hornets, who traded him to the Grizzlies), Spencer Hawes (traded to Hornets), Glen Davis (unsigned as of 7/29)
Los Angeles melted down against Houston, partially because its starters were worn out. With Jamal Crawford, Rivers, Stephenson and Smith coming off the bench, the playoff rotation shouldn't be so short next time. The Clippers would love to have a true stretch 4, but Pierce can play that role and Johnson will at least get a shot at it. They could also use another rim protector, but at least Smith has shown he can play the 5 a little. While this summer doesn't necessarily mean that Doc has redeemed himself for all of his humdrum veteran signings, he has recovered quite nicely. Cool offseason, Glenn.
Will Austin Rivers build on his playoff momentum? The question still sounds strange, doesn't it? Rivers proved in the postseason, though, that he had more potential than anyone gave him credit for. There were moments against both the Spurs and the Rockets where he seemingly got to the basket whenever he wanted, and his confidence could not have been higher. Now, back on a two-year deal, he has a chance to establish himself as a rotation player.
Rivers can help this Los Angeles team if he picks his spots offensively and improves a bit on defense. The question is whether or not he can contribute consistently. Unless Crawford is moved before the trade deadline, it's hard to see a scenario where Rivers has the ball in his hands enough to average big numbers. The good thing is, for the first time, there's not a ton of pressure on him, and Los Angeles will gladly accept the challenge of trying to get the most out of him, Crawford and Stephenson. It will be tricky, but it is preferable to having an absence of playmaking options.Are the Clippers true title contenders? The short answer is yes. They squeaked past a juggernaut San Antonio team in the first round last season, and they should have made it to the conference finals. They did that on the strength of an unstoppable starting five, and now they finally have some depth. Pierce was great in the playoffs at age 37 -- if he can hit some more clutch shots at age 38, next to Paul, Griffin, Jordan and J.J. Redick, then this team is suddenly even scarier.
There are causes for concern, however. Los Angeles was the 15th best defensive team in the NBA last season, and Pierce doesn't make the team better on that end. As well as integrating the new guys offensively, the focus from training camp should be about getting back to the defensive approach the Clippers had two years ago.
Even if the Clips do make a jump statistically in the regular season, there will be doubts about their ability to get past the best of the West. This roster looks great, but the Warriors' core is young and improving and the Spurs just added LaMarcus Aldridge and David West. If the Thunder can stay healthy, they're in the top tier, too. Is Los Angeles? Maybe, but most people would likely place this group with Houston and Memphis, just outside of it.
Worst-case scenario: Stephenson struggles to find his niche, Pierce shows his age and Smith misses jumper after jumper. Everything looks good on paper, but it never translates on the court or in the locker room.
Most likely scenario: Griffin and Paul make All-NBA teams again, Jordan gets more touches with mixed results and the new additions fit in fairly well. Still, they lose in heartbreaking fashion and miss the NBA Finals again, making people wonder if their terrible new uniforms brought the team bad karma.
The Clippers are trying to erase the memory of last year's collapse against the Houston Rockets, and for a moment, it looked like that wouldn't be possible. DeAndre Jordan was gone, and then he was back, bringing with him hope that Los Angeles can take the next step. Will this be the year where Chris Paul and Blake Griffin finally break through in the postseason?
Key Additions
DeAndre Jordan (re-signed after free agency fiasco), Paul Pierce (free agent), Lance Stephenson (trade), Josh Smith (free agent), Austin Rivers (re-signed), Wesley Johnson (free agent), Cole Aldrich (free agent)
Key Losses
Matt Barnes (traded to Hornets, who traded him to the Grizzlies), Spencer Hawes (traded to Hornets), Glen Davis (unsigned as of 7/29)
***
Did the Clippers get better?
Almost certainly. Doc Rivers has taken a lot of deserved criticism for
his maneuverings as a front-office person, but he handled an extremely
difficult offseason about as well as possible. The Clippers needed to
keep Jordan, and they did. They also had to find a way to get deeper
without any financial flexibility, and they did. It's not time to bet on
him winning Executive of the Year, but wow -- Stephenson, Pierce and
Smith! There's a chance Pierce regresses significantly, Stephenson does
what he did last year and Smith drives everybody crazy, but the coaching
staff should be able to find the right roles for them.Los Angeles melted down against Houston, partially because its starters were worn out. With Jamal Crawford, Rivers, Stephenson and Smith coming off the bench, the playoff rotation shouldn't be so short next time. The Clippers would love to have a true stretch 4, but Pierce can play that role and Johnson will at least get a shot at it. They could also use another rim protector, but at least Smith has shown he can play the 5 a little. While this summer doesn't necessarily mean that Doc has redeemed himself for all of his humdrum veteran signings, he has recovered quite nicely. Cool offseason, Glenn.
Will Austin Rivers build on his playoff momentum? The question still sounds strange, doesn't it? Rivers proved in the postseason, though, that he had more potential than anyone gave him credit for. There were moments against both the Spurs and the Rockets where he seemingly got to the basket whenever he wanted, and his confidence could not have been higher. Now, back on a two-year deal, he has a chance to establish himself as a rotation player.
Rivers can help this Los Angeles team if he picks his spots offensively and improves a bit on defense. The question is whether or not he can contribute consistently. Unless Crawford is moved before the trade deadline, it's hard to see a scenario where Rivers has the ball in his hands enough to average big numbers. The good thing is, for the first time, there's not a ton of pressure on him, and Los Angeles will gladly accept the challenge of trying to get the most out of him, Crawford and Stephenson. It will be tricky, but it is preferable to having an absence of playmaking options.Are the Clippers true title contenders? The short answer is yes. They squeaked past a juggernaut San Antonio team in the first round last season, and they should have made it to the conference finals. They did that on the strength of an unstoppable starting five, and now they finally have some depth. Pierce was great in the playoffs at age 37 -- if he can hit some more clutch shots at age 38, next to Paul, Griffin, Jordan and J.J. Redick, then this team is suddenly even scarier.
There are causes for concern, however. Los Angeles was the 15th best defensive team in the NBA last season, and Pierce doesn't make the team better on that end. As well as integrating the new guys offensively, the focus from training camp should be about getting back to the defensive approach the Clippers had two years ago.
Even if the Clips do make a jump statistically in the regular season, there will be doubts about their ability to get past the best of the West. This roster looks great, but the Warriors' core is young and improving and the Spurs just added LaMarcus Aldridge and David West. If the Thunder can stay healthy, they're in the top tier, too. Is Los Angeles? Maybe, but most people would likely place this group with Houston and Memphis, just outside of it.
***
Best-case scenario:
Stephenson fits in on both ends, showing why the Hornets were so
excited to have him last summer, not why they were so quick to get rid
of him a year later; Pierce provides the championship experience and
toughness when it's most needed; Smith is one of the best bench bigs in
the league; Griffin plays like an MVP candidate. If all of this happens,
the Clippers could surprise everybody and win a title like some of us predicted last season. Worst-case scenario: Stephenson struggles to find his niche, Pierce shows his age and Smith misses jumper after jumper. Everything looks good on paper, but it never translates on the court or in the locker room.
Most likely scenario: Griffin and Paul make All-NBA teams again, Jordan gets more touches with mixed results and the new additions fit in fairly well. Still, they lose in heartbreaking fashion and miss the NBA Finals again, making people wonder if their terrible new uniforms brought the team bad karma.
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