Do the Clippers have a shot in making the playoffs?
After failing to win a playoff series in the past five seasons in the Kawhi Leonard era, the Los Angeles Clippers will officially enter a new era this season.
Mainstays and superstars like Paul George, Norman Powell, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Ivica Zubac, and Leonard are all gone.
The team even lost Bennedict Mathurin, who was a restricted free agent but opted to sign with the New Orleans Pelicans after the team pulled his qualifying offer.
The Clippers now turn to Darius Garland, Brandon Ingram, and fifth overall pick Keaton Wagler as they try to get back into contention in a tough Western Conference.
Where Do They Stand?
Vegas has the Clippers with a win total of 28.5, which is just ahead of the Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies.
While they might not be that bad, there is little reason to think they’ll be any higher than a Play-In team unless things go horribly wrong for other teams.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are at the top of the conference. The Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves are in that next tier.
The Portland Trail Blazers have momentum from last season, will welcome back Damian Lillard, and will welcome Ja Morant. The Phoenix Suns were a playoff team last season and improved in the offseason. The Golden State Warriors are an older squad that failed to make the playoffs last season, but they still have Steph Curry and a team with plenty of championship experience.
The Clippers probably fall into the next tier with the Pelicans, Mavericks, and Jazz. All four teams have lineups you can talk yourself into, but none of them are proven just yet.
Any Shot At The Playoffs?
On paper, the Clippers look like a Play-In team at best, which means they have a small chance at making the playoffs.
There is talent between Garland, Ingram, Max Strus, Rui Hachimura, Derrick Jones Jr, and Wagler, but their frontcourt is rather thin with Brook Lopez starting at center.
Tyronn Lue is a proven head coach, but he faces his toughest challenge to date in coaching a younger team with no true superstar. It’s a far cry from the talent he’s had on the roster since he took over as head coach in 2020.
Unless things break in a massive way for the Clippers, they are clearly in the bottom third of the conference.
