Post#20 » by Wammy Giveaway » Tue Oct 14, 2014 4:46 am
I'm really concerned about the Clippers. Although preseason games don't mean anything in the record stands, the only thing they do is that they can still be used against you. For example:
1. Against the Warriors, Trailblazers and Jazz combined, the Clippers allowed 37 of 74 threes, or 50%. Last season, the Clippers were tops at defending the 3. In the playoffs, they allowed an opponent field goal percentage of 35.5. Prediction: 3-point defense will regress to top 3 or 5.
2. The small forward spot is still weak. Matt Barnes isn't getting any younger, Reggie Bullock feels lost, and Chris Douglas-Roberts didn't do much for me. I'm expecting Joe Ingles to start this Friday when the Clippers face the Jazz again. They hid this weakness by playing 3-guard lineups, just like Vinny Del Negro did. We saw Chris Paul guard Kevin Durant in Game 4. Prediction: 3-guard lineups is the norm.
3. Last season, the maximum losing streak was 2. Every time the Clippers were about to suffer three games in a row, they recovered. This is because, in theory, teams who lose three in a row in the regular season are predicted to be eliminated early in the playoffs. This is the first time they've lost three in a row since Doc became coach. Prediction: If a three-game losing streak occurs in the regular season, it will affect their seeding in the playoffs.