Several NBA teams seem to be looking to uprgrade their respective ballclubs after disappointing seasons: Toronto-Indiana, Minnesota-Memphis, Nets-Bucks.
And now to no one's surprise, the Los Angeles Clippers have joined in on the fun.
After several key acqusitions and releases, the Los Angeles Clippers seem to be turning things around in a positive direction.
Here is how I view the new and improved Los Angeles Clippers:
PG Baron Davis
2007-08 Season Numbers: 21.8 PPG , 7.6 APG, 2.3 SPG
Baron is one of the deadliest, strongest, and fearless point guards in the game today, evident by him being the only other point guard in the NBA, not named Chris Paul last season to average 20+ points per game at the point guard position.
Some had written Davis off as a unhappy underachiever, but after rebirthing the Golden State Warriors leader in the in the Western Conference, many have hopped back on Baron's bandwagon.
Davis newly signed a 5 year-$65 million with his hometown team, the Los Angles Clippers, after going to college at UCLA.
SG Eric Gordon
2007-08 Season Numbers at Indiana: 20.9 PPG, 2.4 APG, 1.3 SPG
Gordon was one of the many successful freshman in the College Basketball last season, and was early on favored as the Freshman of the Year before a brute named Micheal Beasley rose to primetime.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Eric can drive, play with his back to the basket, and can flat out shoot the ball, making 33.3% of three point baskets last season at Indiana.
Also with the addition of Baron Davis, he won't have to convert to point guard and will be in his own skin at the two position.
Gordon is also very strong and compact, which will be a bouns as he battles against more experienced competition in his rookie year.
SF Al Thornton
2007-08 Season Numbers: 12.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.2 APG
After being drafted out of Florida State, Thorton stepped in nicely after the departure of veteran traveler Tim Thomas.
Al was inserted into the staring line-up in late March, and brought with him energy, intensity, and a will to win.
Thornton was named to NBA's All Rookie First Team and has a career high of 39 points which he set against the Grizzlies in the later stretch of the year
PF Elton Brand
2007-08 Season Numbers: 17.6 PPG, 8 RPG, 1.9 BPG
Brand's numbers are deceivng considering the fact he only played in a total of 8 games last season after rupturing his left achilles tendon last offseason.
When healthy, Brand is one of the best in the NBA at the power forward position with a career average of 20.3 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 2.7 APG tp prove it.
Sir Elton is the Clippers franchise leader in offensive rebounds with 1,480, a 2-time NBA rebounding champion in 2000 and in 2002, and was a member of the 2006 FIBA World Championships squad.
He also was the 2000 Co-rookie of the year along with Steve Francis.
I wonder who's had the better career?
C Chris Kaman
2007-08 Season Numbers: 15.7 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 2.8 BPG
The most surprising player on the Clippers roster last season, had to be 7-0 265lb, newly Germanized: Chris Kaman.
Kaman had a montser year last season eclipsing 9 different categories last season and thus replacing them all with new career highs. With points, rebounds, blocked shots, free throw shooting, and field goal percentage being the most significant numbers of the bunch.
If not for David West and Amare Stoudemire, perhaps Chris would have found a spot on the Western Conference All Star team.
Bench: C Deandre Jordan
Scouts have said there is much resembalance to Dwight Howard in terms of playing styles , and I couldn't agree more.
While Jordan only averaged 7.9 PPG, 6 RPG, and 1.3 BPG, he has shown moments of freakish athlectism that NBA teams love too see.
With a team like this, expect the Los Angeles Clippers to be heading back to the NBA Playoffs, for the first time since the 2005-06 season.
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6 months ago
Nice article, check my offseason update out. Hope you like it.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/35248-update-wheres-the-money-nba-free-agency-news
6 months ago
Saw this on Fox Sports Blog. Cuttino will likely be starting ahead of Eric Gordon (at least for this season) and if they stay healthy, he may be an X-factor. Good article.
6 months ago
Jordan is several years away from contributing at the NBA level. I'd compare him more to Andrew Bynum than Howard in that he'll take a good 2-3 years of riding the bench and working hard in practice before he's ready to contribute. With questions about his work ethic, Jordan could wind up anywhere between Bynum and Robert Swift by the time he's done developing.
That leaves the Clippers with essentially Tim Thomas and Eric Gordon coming off their bench, and remember that it looks like bringing back Brand doesn't look like a slam-dunk anymore. This team looks very thin, and I'm not at all sure they've made enough moves to get back to the postseason, especially if they can't stay healthy- and Brand, Kaman, Davis, and Thomas all have injury histories.
6 months ago
Good Article, I don't think they will make the playoffs but I think they will have a bettter season.
6 months ago
Good thing Elton Brand isn't going to sign with them. They won't make the playoffs anyways. Eric Gordon is overrated bro.
6 months ago
lol not with elton not there...... clippers fans are going to go hide in their little paper bag again.... good luck!
6 months ago
clippers climbing back down the western conference ladder. by sean stancill
from 6 months ago
Guys,
This article was written before Elton Brand was formally announced to be signing with the Philadelphia Seventy Sixers, and when signs indicated he would be returning to Los Angeles.
5 months ago
I feel bad for Clippers' fans.
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