2017-2018 Predictions

[mkwest]

The 2018 season kicks off Tuesday evening, but us Clippers fans will have to wait until Thursday night to get our fix. How do you guys think this season will play out?

Record:

Seed/Lottery Position:

Biggest Surprise:

Biggest Disappointment:

Most Likely to Finish Season on a Different Team:

Biggest Rookie Impact (includes 2-ways, but not Milos):

NBA Awards
MVP:
DPOY:
MIP:
ROY:
6MOY:
EOY:
COY:

2016-17 Predicitions

[mkwest]

Projections from various sites.

Nylon Caculus: 53.6-28.4, 4th Seed
ESPN: 48.9, 6th Seed (as of 8/3/17)
FiveThirtyEight: 46-36, 7th seed
USA Today: 45-37, 6th Seed
CBS: 43.3-38.7, 6th Seed
Vegas: 6th Seed
Sports Illustrated: 8th Seed
BBALL Breakdown: 40-42, 8 Seed

Feel free to add more if you come across any...

[Captain Ballmer]

Record: 45-36

Seed/Lottery Position: 8th seed and first round exit to Warriors.

Biggest Surprise: Sam Dekker(After usual Gallo injury, taking the starting SF position and roll)

Biggest Disappointment: Patrick Beverley. Still expecting good overall season from him but only 4th best guard in the team after Lou-Teo-Austin.
Dark horse: Harrell. not expecting him to crack to rotation at all.

Most Likely to Finish Season on a Different Team: Montrezz Harrell.(expecting to trade him for exception and late 2nd rounder)

Biggest Rookie Impact (includes 2-ways, but not Milos):Sindarius. I think he will become a rotation player around all-star break. kinda way Luc does it 2 years ago.

NBA Awards
MVP: Durant
DPOY: Gobert
MIP: Aaron Gordon
ROY: Ben Simmons
COY: Brad Stevens.
6TH Man: Marcus Smart

[mkwest]

Record: 47-35 (If Blake plays a minimum of 72 games)

Seed/Lottery Position: 6th Seed

Biggest Surprise: Wesley Johnson shoots above 37% from 3.

Biggest Disappointment: Danilo Gallinari (Due to games missed)

Most Likely to Finish Season on a Different Team: Lou Williams

Biggest Rookie Impact (includes 2-ways, but not Milos): Sindarius Thornwell

NBA Awards
MVP: LeBron James (Runner Up: Giannis Antetokounmpo)
DPOY: Rudy Gobert (Draymond Green)
MIP: Joel Embiid (Myles Turner)
ROY: Dennis Smith Jr. (Ben Simmons)
6MOY: Eric Gordon (Lou Williams)
EOY: Sam Presti (Danny Ainge)
COY: Brett Brown (Steve Kerr)

[MartinToVaught]

Record: 50-30 (assuming the team stays relatively healthy)

Seed: 6th

Biggest Surprise: Sindarius Thornwell. I have hope that he'll step up and make Doc want to give him actual playing time.

Biggest Disappointment: Austin Rivers, if you're one of those people who thinks he's a good player.

Most Likely to Finish Season on a Different Team: DeAndre Jordan

Biggest Rookie Impact: Thornwell

NBA Awards
MVP: Blake Griffin
DPOY: Kawhi Leonard
MIP: Joel Embiid
ROY: Milos Teodosic
6MOY: Greg Monroe
EOY: Tim Connelly
COY: Brett Brown

[Ranma]

Record: 45 - 37

Seed/Lottery Position: 7th in Western Conference

Biggest Surprise: Sam Dekker - With his athleticism, shooting ability and energetic play, it seems like a matter of time before he has a breakout season, but injuries have derailed his progress and could be a chronic issue.

Biggest Disappointment: Brice Johnson - Even with number change in honor of his mother, Johnson looked worse and clueless in preseason. He's always had questions about his motor and motivation and, given Doc's track record with young players, his coach is unlikely to get anything out of him. The kid is showing a bad attitude and deplorable demeanor on the court. Already looks like a bust despite his talent and physical potential.

Most Likely to Finish Season on a Different Team: DeAndre Jordan - With Doc as coach, both father and son Austin Rivers might be gone in the off-season with daddy on the hot seat. Clips and DJ may be looking to extend the relationship further with a contract extension, but I doubt his agent will ask for reasonable figures, which I hope means the team will deal him to a contender by the trade deadline for a package of assets that includes a high first-round draft pick.

Biggest Rookie Impact (includes 2-ways, but not Milos): Jawun Evans - Given PG depth, Jamil Wilson and Sindarius Thornwell are likely better bets, but I think talent wins out for Evans despite the initial lack of playing time.

NBA Awards
MVP: Kahwi Leonard
DPOY: Kawhi Leonard
MIP: Joel Embiid
ROY: Jayson Tatum
6MOY: Lou Williams
EOY: Sam Presti
COY: Brad Stevens

[ejftw]

Have my three "bold" predictions here

Record: 50-32

Seed/Lottery Position: 6th Seed with a date against San Antonio in the first round.

Biggest Surprise: Wesley Johnson having a spectacular season so he can opt out and get a nice payday. Can see him playing good, to at times great, defense while helping out with the rebounding woes and knocking down the three with consistency.

Biggest Disappointment: Lou Williams is expected to replace Jamal, and be better. While he may not shoot us out of games with his tunnel vision, I can't see him getting consistent minutes with Austin on the squad to get a groove going and really help the bench the way he should.

Most Likely to Finish Season on a Different Team: Brice Johnson will probably be sold off for a T55P2 and an expiring or trade exception as his playing time remains at essentially nothing, leading to Doc's final first round pick being shipped off.

Biggest Rookie Impact (includes 2-ways, but not Milos): Thornwell, bar none. I do want to say Jamil, but since he can only spend 45 (iirc) days in the pros, his total impact will be reduced.

NBA Awards
MVP: Anteup (Kawhi)
DPOY: Kawhi (Beverly)
MIP: Myles Turner (Jaylen Brown)
ROY: Ben Simmons (Milos)
6MOY: Eric Gordon (Fultz)
EOY: Presti (Morey)
COY: Brown (Brooks)

[Forte IV]

I'm going full homer with my predictions, with a mix of what-if we're fully healthy in between. Logic to me says that if we keep up the ball movement, plus our depth we'll be good.

Record: 53-29

Seed/Lottery Position: 4

Biggest Surprise: SIndarius Thornwell (He looks like he could be amazing at defense)

Biggest Disappointment: Brice Johnson. (He looks complacent out there at times)

Most Likely to Finish Season on a Different Team: Brice Johnson

Biggest Rookie Impact (includes 2-ways, but not Milos): Sindarius Thornwell

NBA Awards
MVP: Blake Griffin (If healthy he avgs 26, 9, and 6; 39% from 3).
DPOY: Draymond Green (If Jazz don't make playoffs Gobert doesn't win, if they do, he does.
MIP: Austin Rivers (if he's healthy and starts
ROY: Ben Simmons
6MOY: Andre Iguodala
EOY: Presti
COY: Brad Stevens

[Wammy Giveaway]

Record: 20-62 (unless they prove otherwise, see Biggest Surprise)
Why: The 2007-08 Boston Celtics championship team had a 66-16 record under the first year of the Big 3 of Allen-Pierce-Garnett. The year before, they were 24-58. That's a difference of 42 wins! After Doc's first year here in L.A., the Clips only gained an extra win after Vinny Del Negro's 56-26 season, regressing in win totals every year since (57 in 2014, 56 in 2015, 53 in 2016, 51 in 2017). Even his Big 3 Celtics were not immune to seasonal regression (66 in 2008, 62 in 2009, 50 in 2010, 56 in 2011, 39 of 66 in 2012 lockout, 41 of 81 played in 2013 due to Boston bombings). The jump from 24 to 66 was due primarily to the farm trade of five players for Kevin Garnett. By that logic, because Doc was involved in a reverse farm trade of Chris Paul for seven players, the Clippers are going to drop off huge. Now you know why I've been very pessimistic and doomsday about the Clippers off-season.

Seed/Lottery Position: 15th in west
Why: Since the Warriors first championship in 2015, the average win total for the 30th seed was approximately 15 (15 by Timberwolves, 10 by 76ers, 20 by Nets in chronological order). The competitive nature out west will prevent the Clippers from ever going under 30 wins, let alone 20. Even in Jerry West's first year with the Dubs, they were a lottery team (36-46 in 2011), but they've rebuilt the squad pretty nicely two years later, and now they can't be stopped. Give the Clippers a year. For now, let's watch them do what they do best: entertain the league with highlight reel plays. They need to be lovable again.

Biggest Surprise: Clipper fans believe, make the playoffs as 8th seed, and break the curse by avenging their 3-1 loss to Rockets with a 3-0 miracle comeback
Why: The 2016 season proved that curses exist, and they can be broken. No team in NBA history had ever recovered from a 3-1 Finals deficit, until the Cleveland Cavaliers rewrote the history books by vanquishing a record that was once deemed unbreakable. For the Clippers, it would take proving my prediction wrong by campaigning for the 8th seed. Clipperholics beat writer Garrett Chorpenning wrote about how this Clippers team has the potential of disrupting the playoffs as a 6th seed and upsetting the Rockets. In my opinion, I'd prefer the Clippers drawing the Rockets in the 2nd round because there's more on the line there than in the 1st round:

1. Avenging their 3-1 collapse and nearly losing DeAndre to the Mavericks? Check.
2. Being forced to defeat the very player who finally made them relevant in Chris Paul? Check, but in chess terms. The Clippers have a history of punishing themselves for failing to get the job done, their actions feel more like a gift than an earned victory for their opponent. The last thing the Clippers want to do is end Chris Paul's nightmare of escaping the 2nd round barrier at their own expense.
3. Miracle comeback in exchange for new heights? Checkmate. Like I stated earlier, the first championship for Cavs overall and first in 52 years for Cleveland required beating the greatest team of all time under the most dire of circumstances. The Boston Red Sox needed to come back from a 3-0 deficit to right Harry Frazee's wrong of selling Babe Ruth to their arch nemesis New York Yankees which activated the 86-year World Series drought. As a matter of fact, by shipping Chris Paul to the team who gave them the 3-1 collapse, you could now claim the Clippers are in the same boat as the Red Sox. If the Cavs can break a 0-32 record of coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals, then maybe the Clipper's first trip ever to the Western Conference Finals starts with a 3-0 miracle comeback. They'll have to prove the comeback and atonement is sincere, however.

Biggest Disappointment: I'm not getting into this one.

Most Likely to Finish Season on a Different Team: DeAndre Jordan or Austin Rivers, depending on coaching change
Why: I hate to say it, but Jerry West will be heavily involved. Basketball sense tells us the role of big men has changed. It doesn't help that DeAndre is a very poor free throw shooter and has no other offensive skill but lob-jams, poster dunks, and screen sets - but he's an anchor on defense, calling out every defensive play and protecting the rim; sometimes acting as the de facto defender. My sense tells me it's the Griffin-Jordan friendship. One of the reasons DJ backed out of the Mavericks deal was due to Griffin. Even if the Clippers ship DeAndre out for the right reasons, Griffin will be pretty upset about it to the point he might want out too. Griffin's final lesson as a basketball player is learning to let go, and it will be up to Jerry West to soften the blow of losing his friend. The maturity of Griffin will ultimately determine the fate of the Clippers, and if he's incapable of letting go, another long playoff drought will be awaiting them soon.

Biggest Rookie Impact (includes 2-ways, but not Milos): I'm not getting into this one.

NBA Awards
MVP: Kevin Durant
DPOY: Draymond Green
MIP: Don't know
ROY: Don't know
6MOY: Don't know
EOY: Don't know
COY: Don't know

[Forte IV]

okay wammy

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I'll simply just say we got 45 wins this year. We'll probably stop of streak of 50 win seasons this year. I have to see what we have this year, I think we take a step back on defense unless the team shows otherwise. I would love it if we could win more than 50 games, but I don't think that's a given at this point. I also think that we'll be in the bottom half of the playoff standings. IF Blake it out for an extended period then we could miss the playoffs.......................

[Neddy]

The 2018 season kicks off Tuesday evening, but us Clippers fans will have to wait until Thursday night to get our fix. How do you guys think this season will play out?

Record:

Seed/Lottery Position:

Biggest Surprise:

Biggest Disappointment:

Most Likely to Finish Season on a Different Team:

Biggest Rookie Impact (includes 2-ways, but not Milos):

NBA Awards
MVP:
DPOY:
MIP:
ROY:
6MOY:
EOY:
COY:

2016-17 Predicitions

record ; 45-37
6th seed
Milos Teodovic turning up to be a legit NBA point guard and taking the starting job.
Carmelo. he will be displaced as the third option in OKC and will not live up to his contract or the expectations.
Lebron
hate to say it, but Ball
MVP:Durant
DPOY: Leonard
MIP: Simmons
ROY: Ball
6MOY: Lou
EOY: Bryan Colangelo
COY: Brad Stevens

[Neddy]

Record: 20-62 (unless they prove otherwise, see Biggest Surprise)

LMAO I am keeping this for the record

[clip set]

Record: 48-34

Seed/Lottery Position: 6

Biggest Surprise: Juwan Evans becomes a serious contributor in the rotation

Biggest Disappointment: the team's defense noticeably regresses

Most Likely to Finish Season on a Different Team: Brice Johnson

Biggest Rookie Impact (includes 2-ways, but not Milos): Juwan Evans

NBA Awards
MVP: Giannis
DPOY: Gobert
MIP: Jokic
ROY: Simmons
6MOY: Barton
EOY: Presti
COY: Mike Malone

[Wammy Giveaway]

Record: 20-62 (unless they prove otherwise, see Biggest Surprise)

LMAO I am keeping this for the record

Let's make a bet.

If the Clippers make the playoffs without Chris Paul and get out of the 2nd round by any means necessary, you can ban me from this Clippers forum. I've already been banned by Clippers News Surge (formerly Top Buzz) and Clips Nation (SB Nation). All I need is one more ban (this forum), and I will never join another Clippers forum again. Consider this my public blacklisting.

What do you say, Neddy?

[Dynamix]

Record: 20-62 (unless they prove otherwise, see Biggest Surprise)

LMAO I am keeping this for the record

Let's make a bet.

If the Clippers make the playoffs without Chris Paul and get out of the 2nd round by any means necessary, you can ban me from this Clippers forum. I've already been banned by Clippers News Surge (formerly Top Buzz) and Clips Nation (SB Nation). All I need is one more ban (this forum), and I will never join another Clippers forum again. Consider this my public blacklisting.

What do you say, Neddy?

If we make it past the second round, I'm nominating you for honorary moderator.

[Ranma]

Record: 20-62 (unless they prove otherwise, see Biggest Surprise)

LMAO I am keeping this for the record

Let's make a bet.

If the Clippers make the playoffs without Chris Paul and get out of the 2nd round by any means necessary, you can ban me from this Clippers forum. I've already been banned by Clippers News Surge (formerly Top Buzz) and Clips Nation (SB Nation). All I need is one more ban (this forum), and I will never join another Clippers forum again. Consider this my public blacklisting.

What do you say, Neddy?

Wait. How does a 20-62 record become equivalent to making the playoffs and getting past the 2nd round? I have them at 45-37 and they could just as easily miss the playoffs with that record nor is it expected that the Clips would be favored to advanced even past the 1st round with my projection.

20-62 puts us firmly in the lottery with likely the best odds in the lottery since that was the Nets' record last season. There's a big gap between likely having a top-4 draft pick to just making the playoffs.

I just don't think this drama was called for.

[Neddy]

Record: 20-62 (unless they prove otherwise, see Biggest Surprise)

LMAO I am keeping this for the record

Let's make a bet.

If the Clippers make the playoffs without Chris Paul and get out of the 2nd round by any means necessary, you can ban me from this Clippers forum. I've already been banned by Clippers News Surge (formerly Top Buzz) and Clips Nation (SB Nation). All I need is one more ban (this forum), and I will never join another Clippers forum again. Consider this my public blacklisting.

What do you say, Neddy?

I am not interested in banning your behind, your outrageous conspiracy theories and predictions in the past has always annoyed me but this one truly takes the cake and I am keeping it.

and little buddy, when you make bets, there is something to gain as well as to risk on both sides, you are asking me to take a bet where I have nothing to lose? you can do whatever you wish to do with that bet. sounds enticing. in fact, go ahead.

[Neddy]

LMAO I am keeping this for the record

Let's make a bet.

If the Clippers make the playoffs without Chris Paul and get out of the 2nd round by any means necessary, you can ban me from this Clippers forum. I've already been banned by Clippers News Surge (formerly Top Buzz) and Clips Nation (SB Nation). All I need is one more ban (this forum), and I will never join another Clippers forum again. Consider this my public blacklisting.

What do you say, Neddy?

If we make it past the second round, I'm nominating you for honorary moderator.

this is awesome.

[esqtvd]

47 wins, 6th seed

I like the consensus of the smart guys here, that WeJo will be surprisingly useful, Brice is garbage, and Sindarious will muscle his way into some rotation minutes.

I also hope Dekker will be a pleasant surprise. He shot a lot of 3s last year--43.6% of his FGAs, @ 33%. Just a slight uptick would make him another weapon at 6'9".

I'll also predict something like a 10-12 game winning streak when we're deliriously running on all cylinders in there somewhere, though making it to the playoffs healthy is probably the biggest longshot of all.