It’s no secret that the Clippers are currently the best team to call Crypto.com Arena (formerly the Staples Center) home. With Nicolas Batum sticking around and guys like Robert Covington, Norman Powell, Amir Coffey and Reggie Jackson still in the mix, the Clippers could have one of the deepest rosters in the NBA.
Ivica Zubic and Terrance Mann were critical in keeping the Clippers afloat last season after the loss of a few of their key players, and the growth in their game will bolster the Clippers’ depth even more.
Perhaps the biggest move that the Clippers have recently made though is the signing of John Wall to a two-year deal. With Wall’s experience and playmaking abilities, this could open things up for others and could be revitalizing for both Wall and the organization — as long as the 31-year-old can stay healthy.
Now with Kawhi Leonard back and hopefully a healthy wingman in Paul George — who also dealt with injuries and only played in 31 games last season — the Clippers are one of the teams to fear in the Western Conference, and in the league, and will certainly be worth checking out in NBA betting markets this year.
While superstar Kawhi Leonard missed the entirety of last season recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee that was suffered during the playoffs the year before, the Clippers still managed to claw their way into the playoffs with a record of 42-40.
Reggie Jackson was instrumental in their charge, averaging 16.8 points and 6.8 assists per game last year, and Marcus Morris added 15.4 ppg. Though they eventually lost in the play-in tournament to New Orleans and Minnesota, it was an encouraging season for the Clippers and they’ll be hoping to step it up even further this upcoming season.
The lesser known of the Los Angeles franchises, the Los Angeles Clippers have traditionally been labeled as a team associated with struggling. Founded in 1970 and originally the Buffalo Braves, the Braves moved to San Diego in 1978 and were rebranded as the San Diego Clippers.
They relocated to Los Angeles in 1984 in a controversial move by then-owner Donald Sterling. The Clippers’ struggles continued until the 2010s, winning just one playoff series during that span. With a young Blake Griffin emerging following a 2011 Rookie of the Year award and the addition of DeAndre Jordan, the Clippers added all-star guard Chris Paul to the roster.
The result was perennial playoff appearances and 180-degree turn on the competitive scale. But, the Clippers could never get to the NBA Finals. They’ve made it to the playoffs in three of the past five seasons, and their fans will be hopeful that their first championship is just over the horizon.
