What are your expectaions for a playoff run?

[Devils Advocate]

Based on the strenght of the roster I fully expect the Clippers to atleast make it to the WCF. To elaborate When I look at the starting 5 I see talent at every position. They all pose some sort of threat on the offensive end and their skillsets dont overlap. They have to bigs that finish strong around the rim match with three perimeters players that can knock down open shots or put the ball on the ground and create. What other teams in the west can say that? Also they have 3 more perimeter players that can shoot an create iin Mo, Foye and Bledsoe to an extent. They lose the scoring down low but Cook and Thompkins and spread the floor when called upon. The combination of a strong starting 5 plus multiple weapons off the bench should allow them to outlast most teams out west. The only X factor is defense but I think it will be as big an issue as they make it out to be on the General Board.

Is this a realistic point of view? Also name any teams you think will pose a big problem for the Clips in a 7 game series.

[Devils Advocate]

This topic has gotten some views but no responses. Either you think I'm a troll or someone else has made this topic before. If so sorry for the overlap. I've been reading Realgm for about 6 years now and finally decided to join. Also I want to point out I am a Clippers fan since the early 90's and do live in the LA area. I'm not on the bandwagon as I never root for the Lakers which does lead to a lot of aurgements living in this area. Part of the reason I made this post was to introduce myself to the other Clippers while there was still a lot of doubters about the team. I feel in about 2 to 3 weeks there will be a large wave of fans of Laker fans claiming to root for the Clippers since they are also a home team.

[DunknDave]

O.K., I'll bite on this one. "At least WCF", may be a little to bold of a statement. Although it's possible, it will be tough. We've got the defending NBA champs, an aging, but proud Laker team, and an up and coming OKC team that has played together for a few years now. The playoffs are a "new" season, and veteran teams know this-----see the Boston Celtics-----the regular season only counts for home court advantage. We are a very good team no doubt, but we haven't been playoff tested. We are still defining roles, lacking a decent backup center, and have no injuries. The regular season is "fun 'n gun" but the post season is about execution and defense------we still have a lot to prove, although, for a change, we do have some "tools" to work with. Vinny's playoff coaching ability has to be included in the possibility as well. Your enthusiam for the team is well warranted, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves-----any, and all WINS are super important for this organization (including pre-season).

[thanumba2clippersfan]

First of all Devils Advocate welcome to the board

We do have a playoff discussion thread so that's probably why no one has really posted in yours. I'm with DunknDave. I would love to make it to the WCF but I can't really say if we will make it that far since we never have. I'm fairly confident that we will make the playoffs, but the West has many experienced and battle tested teams. I personally feel that the Thunder and Grizzlies are the top two teams in the West. It will be interesting to see how things shake up this season. I believe this Clipper team will be really good once we develop some chemistry and everyone has a defined role.

[RiversideClips]

I am proud to say I am the "#1 Clipper Band Wagoner in So.Cal." I just went through the lean years as a member of this Board, so folks would believe that I am Clipper, through & through. (so not true)
Of course there is going to be a lot of BW's, it started the day after we got Chauncey & traded for Paul. Everyone who has been on this Board for a while is probably a "guarded optimist" we know the Clips are good, but we want it to fall into place & not get our hopes up..
I think that we should make it to the 2nd Rd and from there anything can happen. As long as we are gelling ever game, I am cool w/ that.

[Devils Advocate]

I do realize that my predition is a bit of a bold statement but its based on the fact that the west isnt as strong as it used to be. I do see OKC and Memphis as two up and coming teams but we hung with them last year and we are much improved. We have an advantage at every position except the 3 (maybe the 2 aslo). We should also have a huge rebounding advantage.

Memphis is still a question make to me. They made it as the 8th seed and matched up well against the spurs. Zach played out of his mind in the playoffs but we have to see if Gay can mesh with him and not stop the great ball movement they had in the playoffs. In any case I think they match up well with us.

The proven teams like the Lakers and Spurs are declining gradually. The Spurs alway seem to struggle with young athletic teams and that describes the Clippers pretty well. The Lakers bigs provide match up problems on offense and the lenght bothers Griffin. However with Kobe on the court they will not go inside enough to punish us all game (He loves his contested fadeaways).

I said WCF because thats where we may meet the Mavs. With the absense of Chandler their defense should weaken as he anchored the Zone. We should also have a rebounding advantage. We wont have anyone to stop Dirk but they wont have anyone for Griffin or Paul.

[Devils Advocate]

I am proud to say I am the "#1 Clipper Band Wagoner in So.Cal." I just went through the lean years as a member of this Board, so folks would believe that I am Clipper, through & through. (so not true)
Of course there is going to be a lot of BW's, it started the day after we got Chauncey & traded for Paul. Everyone who has been on this Board for a while is probably a "guarded optimist" we know the Clips are good, but we want it to fall into place & not get our hopes up..
I think that we should make it to the 2nd Rd and from there anything can happen. As long as we are gelling ever game, I am cool w/ that.

Yea I joined the board to have intellegent debate about the game and I've noticed over the years that if you are a homer or seem like a homer because of optimisim that the conversations turn to attacks and not debate.

Thats why I posting my optimistic views in here. I also want to represent the Clippers fans well and not be one of those poster always hyping up thier team on the General Board. It seems to only create hate for that fan base.

[SportsFan215]

Welcome to the board Devils Advocate. I hear you sentiment on making it to the Western Conference Finals, and I think it is definitely possible with this team this year. I would say my expectations are to "make it at least to the 2nd round of the playoffs."

[tsherkin]

(dips in from outside of L.A.)

If everything gels, the Clippers should be at least making the second round and the WCFs shouldn't be out of reach. Wouldn't advance the idea that they'll make it out of the conference per se, but if their depth isn't so much of an issue in the compressed season and their guard situation works re: Chauncey/CP3, how much more do you want? Their D isn't going to be amazing but I'm searching for a team that's going to be better than them on offense and coming up short for clearly-superior opponents in that respect. Billups/Paul are going to have a field day with that frontcourt, so they should be able to trample people in the regular season and get home court through most of the playoffs.

Their going to need to improve a lot on D for that to happen, but both Billups and Paul represent defensive upgrades in the backcourt (and Chauncey has often guarded larger guards through his time in Detroit and since), DAJ should take at least a small step forward after another season of experience (especially now that there won't be any interruptions in PT from Kaman) and maybe Blake will get a little better, too. Butler, if healthy, should be at least competent and contributing on the defensive glass...

Could be a pretty deep run if everything falls into place.

[mkwest]

Welcome to the board.

Paul came in here talking about championship and everybody's eyes got big. I certainly think that the playoffs are likely provided our main cornerstones are healthy throughout the season. Once we're in the playoffs, it can be anybody's game imo. A WCF appearance or more, wouldn't be surprising to me, but it's not a given either. Everything has to fall in line and progress the way we hope. A lot of this team's success will depend on the progression of DeAndre Jordan. He's our only big man right now and we're depending on him for interior defense. Defense and rebounding are what is going to carry you in the playoffs. The fact that we're going to turn the ball over less does help as a possession in the playoffs means everything. There are less possessions, so every single possession is going to count.

Offensively, we're going to keep opposing teams on their toes. We have playmakers, scorers, run-n-gun athletic line-ups that we can throw out there. If opposing teams double (in regards to our starters), then they're going to leave someone open that can hurt them. I really want us to add a 7 footer with some size. That'll make me more confident in this team going further in the playoffs.

[kombayn]

I think this team if FOR-SURE 2nd Round material and I would be fully satisfied with a Western Conference Finals appearance. Once the teams gets the chemistry it needs that we'll be a Top 5 seed in the West and we can't forget about making a solid trade to increase our potency with the offense. Right now the defense isn't solid outside of DeAndre's blocked shots.

[Devils Advocate]

I think this team if FOR-SURE 2nd Round material and I would be fully satisfied with a Western Conference Finals appearance. Once the teams gets the chemistry it needs that we'll be a Top 5 seed in the West and we can't forget about making a solid trade to increase our potency with the offense. Right now the defense isn't solid outside of DeAndre's blocked shots.

Evans doesn't block shots but he is a good defender. Plus he will just ruff up any big that starts to go off on us.

[LOJ]

Championship

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Nah, but in all honesty, I expect an exciting playoff run.