20 games in - what does the West look like?

[PeteyPablo]

As of 3:00pm pacific today 12/07/2023 , here are the standings:

1 ) Minnesota 16 - 4 Home 10-1 Road 6-3 point differential + 7 last 10 8-2

2) Oklahoma 13 - 7 Home 6-4 Road 7-3 point differential +7.5 last 10 7-3

3) Denver 14 - 8 Home 9-0 Road 5-8 point differential + 3.5 last 10 5-5

4) Dallas 12 - 8 Home 6-4 Road 6-4 point differential +2.8 last 10 4-6

5) LAL 13 - 9 Home 9-2 Road 4-7 point differential - 0.08 last 10 7-3

6) SAC 11 - 8 Home 6-3 Road 5-5 point differential -0.08 last 10 6-4

7) PHX 12 - 9 Home 5-5 Road 7-4 point differential + 2.6 last 10 7-3

8) NO 12 - 10 Home 8-4 Road 4-6 point differential + 1.2 last 10 6-4

9) LAC 10-10 Home 7-3 Road 3-7 point differential +3.5 last 10 7-3

10) HOU 9-9 Home 9-1 Road 0-8 point differential +3.2 last 10 4-6

[PeteyPablo]

Which team would you anticipate or guess to drop off as the season goes on?

Where can the Clippers settle into once the season ends?

[Wammy Giveaway]

It's pretty muddy. Every time we try to figure out the Clippers, something happens to make their result even more murkier. Perhaps we'll never find out; divine powers might be in full force to keep the world from scripting the Clipper's narrative to suit their tastes. Heck, I'm guilty of this too, you know. All we can do, then, is study the past:

1. In the Lob City era (2012-2017), Clippers went from .606 to .695 in three years, then nosedived after the year of the Sterling scandal (2014), bottoming at .622 in 2016-17 season. We're seeing the same with Leonard-George: .681 in their first year, then going down each and every year until their most bottom at .512 in 2021-22 season. They would recover the following year with a .537, but it wasn't enough from a playoff perspective.

Keep in mind, .512 is a magic number. Of the seasons where they had a record between .500 and .599, .512 is the most prominent with three findings. As the Buffalo Braves in the 1973-74 season, they made the playoffs but lost. As the Clippers in the 2017-18 season, they missed the playoffs completely. 2021-22 was the season they made the qualifier and had to win just one of two games to make the playoffs. Any other .500-type record means they're in, but if they hit the sweet spot of .512, we will be forced to wait and see. In other words, if they're .512, they're in the qualifier, and it will take games to determine if they make the playoffs.

2. Superteams never worked unless it's organic and earned. The reason why something like Nash-Bryant-Gasol-Howard didn't work, or Westbrook-James-Anthony-Davis-Howard was simply for being too powerful; Curry-Thompson-Green-Durant worked because all three of their superstars were homegrown, with Durant joining Golden State because they defeated him in the playoffs, earned the right to take another superstar away from Thunder. Westbrook-Harden-George-Leonard was a power move, only cared about the Fantastic 4 and invincibility rather than keeping what they had and growing with good chemistry. Even as Westbrook requested to come off the bench, it still feels like a Fantastic 4 as he's become the de facto Sixth Man award candidate on account of his All-Star selections and awards.

The best run Clippers will be able to get is a Finals appearance like the 2004 Super Lakers, and the worst is missing the playoffs completely. However, Lakers are protected by their championship history and winning aura; Clippers have no protective luxury, only a miserable losing history so the Harden trade is indeed a last resort. Intents like this sway the dial out of any extreme, snuggling nicely in the middle. Again, we have a 50-50, a will-they-won't-they.

Because of these things, it is recommended we leave the Clipper's destiny to chance. Let the Clippers control and make their own destiny; don't dictate their future so that it suits our personal narratives, or else divine intervention will play a heavier role in their Ultimatum Season. We don't want to burden them.

[donemilio21]

We are 7-3 since signing Daniel Theis and giving him 20 min per night

[madmaxmedia]

The great majority of games for rest of 2023 are pretty winnable, Boston seems like the most formidable opponent if not the best record. I don't know about the SOS after that, but I daresay we need to make some sort of mark in these next 11 games.

It's of course more important how we're playing at the end of the regular season, but this is our chance to make some ground for a better seeding.

[esqtvd]

The great majority of games for rest of 2023 are pretty winnable, Boston seems like the most formidable opponent if not the best record. I don't know about the SOS after that, but I daresay we need to make some sort of mark in these next 11 games.

It's of course more important how we're playing at the end of the regular season, but this is our chance to make some ground for a better seeding.

Get in the habit of winning.

[madmaxmedia]

After 30 games the conference is still pretty clumped together. #1 through #3 are legit teams that will not easily give up their spots, but if we're healthy we can hold onto 4 which would mean a Round 1 home series against the Mavs. Passing OKC at #3 is definitely possible, which right now would mean a home series against the Kings which I think is preferable to the Mavs.

Memphis is back with Ja but they have a fair amount of ground to cover. Who knows what will happen to the Suns.

[clipperlover]

After 30 games the conference is still pretty clumped together. #1 through #3 are legit teams that will not easily give up their spots, but if we're healthy we can hold onto 4 which would mean a Round 1 home series against the Mavs. Passing OKC at #3 is definitely possible, which right now would mean a home series against the Kings which I think is preferable to the Mavs.

Memphis is back with Ja but they have a fair amount of ground to cover. Who knows what will happen to the Suns.

Aaron Gordon was bit in the face and hand by a dog after their Christmas game and is going to be out indefinitely. So, we will have to wait an see how that impacts the top 3 spots.

Prior to Kawhi going down, we controlled our own fate to win the West. Now, we will need some help along the way, but we can work ourselves into the top 3 spots. For example, we are 5 losses back from Minny, but still have 4 games remaining against them. We are 3 losses behind OKC, but still have 2 games left against them. We are 2 losses behind Denver with 1 game remaining.

[nickhx2]

After 30 games the conference is still pretty clumped together. #1 through #3 are legit teams that will not easily give up their spots, but if we're healthy we can hold onto 4 which would mean a Round 1 home series against the Mavs. Passing OKC at #3 is definitely possible, which right now would mean a home series against the Kings which I think is preferable to the Mavs.

Memphis is back with Ja but they have a fair amount of ground to cover. Who knows what will happen to the Suns.

rough sledding for memphis all things considered, but i'd consider them to always be scary because they're just one of those teams that has our number no matter what we do. ideally things change with the addition of harden but we won't truly know till we get there.

the suns are fascinating because they're in a similar boat to us where they're in flux having made major roster changes, but one of their key guys is out, adding to the flux. we at least have the benefit of having seen the strengths of this team as it approaches critical mass, while i don't think they can quite say the same. and then there is, of course, the KD factor: the one where he decides he's done with the team and sends himself off to greener pastures lol.

[clipperlover]

rough sledding for memphis all things considered, but i'd consider them to always be scary because they're just one of those teams that has our number no matter what we do. ideally things change with the addition of harden but we won't truly know till we get there.

Not going to be hard for Memphis to get back into the hunt at all. They have the 7th best road record in the West at 8-8. They have just been terrible at home. They have the last 2 DPOY award winners on their roster and they have Ja back (and Marcus Smart) now. They are #7 in the NBA in Defensive rating on the season.

They were 1-11 at home prior to Ja's return. The Jazz are the only sub .500 team they lost against at home. 7 of the 11 home losses were to teams currently 6 or more game above .500. They have 28 home games left with 11 against sub .500 teams. Last year Memphis won 85% of their home games, so if they re-capture that home magic, they will win 24 of their remaining 28 home games.

[clipperlover]

Looked at the score of the Denver-GS game in the 4th last night and was excited to see us pulling even with Denver in the loss column. Checked ESPN later and saw that Jokic hit a game winner. Just a huge comeback. However, the bigger issue is that the emotion Jokic showed is concerning. He is starting to "feel" it which should be concerning for anyone trying to de-throne the Nuggets. The Nuggets are a very tight group right now.

We might need to make a minor low risk move to bring in Boban. Having his size to bring in for a potential meeting with the Nuggets would be a plus. He could give us a few quality minutes on Jokic when we need it.

[clipperlover]

Thought I would bring this back to the top since we have now just passed the halfway point.

Some very interesting numbers as we head out on this road trip:
1. Clippers have the best Home record in the West (19-4) with 2 more home games played Min and Den. By the time we get back from the road trip, those 2 teams best home record chance would be 20-4.

2. We have played more conference games (32, 21-11) than everyone else in the top 5. Minny at 21-7 has the top record vs the conference. Phoenix is closet to us in games played (31), but are 17-14. Important to keep the good conference record if seedings come down to potential tiebreakers. OKC is currently #1 in West because oh head of head vs Min.

3. Clips current 9-10 on the road is the worst among the Top 8 teams in the west and top 7 in the East. Luckily, we have a good stretch of road games kicking off tonight. We play 4 of our next 7 games vs teams where we have more wins (28) and they have combined home wins (24). 4-3 on the upcoming road trip should be a given. Doing better than that is gravy. If we could pull out a win in Boston, then we could go 7-0 on the road trip.

4. #2 Pt differential in the West and #4 in the NBA.

[PeteyPablo]

As of today , LAC is 2.5 games from 1st place.

Wolves - They are a good complete team. But not unbeatable. Clippers on the road with out Zubac were battling but became unraveled in the 4th qtr on the road.

OKC - great young team. Lots of talent and young players with upside. I think they lack a center, although Holmgren will be great.

Denver - reigning champs and 1 game ahead of LAC

Suns- They have been climbing back up the rankings and are right behind LAC as of today in 5th place. I am glad Clipper gave them a beat down last game because they could be a team LAC will face in the Playoffs.

Clippers have beat all of the playoff teams except for Minnesota. With the exception of 1 or 2 really bad games from Harden, Kawhi and PG - The trio has performed at a high level and the rest of the team has also elevated their game this season.

They got blown out by the Celtics but that was on the tail end of multiple back-to-backs and has been deemed a scheduled loss.

Maybe LAC has two All-Stars this year and how many head coaches get selected?

[clipperlover]

After 49 games, .5 game out of a 3 way tie for the top of the West. We have 1 less game played.

The goal for this team has to be 60+ wins. Kawhi's 2015-2016 had 67 wins, but that is very unlikely because we would have to win out. However, we could definitely get 60. As long as the team is locked in with focus, we can pull it off.

Minny about to go on a 5 game road trip before the break. They still have 3 games left vs Denver.

OKC schedule doesn't look bad until April, then they have a 5 game road trip where the first 4 are NY, Philly, Boston and Indy.

How those teams perform with the playoffs looming and if they run into some adversity will determine if we are in a dogfight for the top seed or can distance ourselves.

We have both games with Philly and Bucks remaining. We also have Indy, Denver and Cle on our court.

Top spot in the NBA isn't completely out of reach. Boston is only up on us by 3 games. They have Atlanta and @Mia before the break.

[donemilio21]

best record in the West!

[KingCrimzzon]

best record in the West!

There it is, +1 in the loss column. Let's get some more separation before the ASG. GO CLIP JOINT!!!!

[HardenGoat]

I turned off the Twolves game at the half thinking they won. They blew a 20 point lead to the Bulls??

[jengmann3]

The thing is... do we have to play Luka and Kyrie in the first round lol. or Lebron and AD. The west is so tough. But happy for the team to be in first after such a rough start.

[Kelphus]

Wowsers, #1 in West, 3,5 games behind Boston overall...and we ain't done!

[Captain Ballmer]

Suns and Warriors getting better. OKC sliding. Dallas will improve a lot with Gafford&PJ additions. Lakers got Dinwiddie for free.

I hope we don't regret staying silent in the trade deadline because almost every 5-10 seed in the west got better.