The Las Vegas oddsmakers have given the LA Clippers an over/under win total of 53.5 for the 2016-17 NBA season, which seems far too low when considering their clear potential.
Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas hasn’t been too optimistic about the LA Clippers for the 2016-17 NBA season. The Golden State Warriors have, obviously, been favored far ahead of everyone else with an over/under win total of 66.5, a fairly safe assumption seeing as they added that pretty good basketball player named Kevin Durant. And, as is usually the case, the San Antonio Spurs have been placed 2nd in the Western Conference with 56.5.
Meanwhile, the Clippers have been doubted. They made the right choice in not trading Blake Griffin this summer, but just because they didn’t land Durant or overhaul their bench with major acquisitions (which was always impossible due to their salary cap issues) people seem to think they won’t improve.
And we won’t consider the playoffs just yet, but the regular season is what we’re talking about with the over/under win totals. And Vegas giving the Clippers a mere 53.5, when they already won 53 last season with Griffin out for 47 games, hardly seems very accurate.
2016-17 NBA Win Totals via @golfodds, with last year's win total included. pic.twitter.com/uXi1nN5bds
— Carter Rodriguez (@Carter_Shade) September 20, 2016
So, if you hadn’t guessed already, I’m going comfortably over with this.
Anywhere between 58 and 60 wins is what I predict for these LA Clippers. And Griffin coming back, returning as the team’s leading scorer, second-best rebounder (which was desperately needed in 2015-16), and elite playmaker to take more pressure off Chris Paul, is going to immediately help them get closer to that high mark.
The best win total in Lob City history is certainly within reach next season.
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Then there’s the matter of continuity. Unlike last summer that saw the likes of Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson and Josh Smith arrive to totally remake the bench, this year enabled the Clippers to maintain some familiarity with their roster. This can only help them start the season with more momentum.
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Of course, some minimum signings have been made. Marreese Speights as the new backup center, Brandon Bass, Alan Anderson and Raymond Felton all help and are sound acquisitions for the lowest price possible. Rookie Brice Johnson also has energizing promise when he can make the rotation for a few minutes here and there.
With these new players will come some adjustment, with the biggest concern being the trade-off of Cole Aldrich‘s defense (now in Minnesota) for Speights’ vastly superior shooting and three-point threat.
How this transition from defense to offense works off the bench is the main question, but it still doesn’t shadow the talent of this team, the benefit of continuity for the early weeks of the season, and the return of Blake. The Clippers earning the 2nd seed in the West is easily a possibility (and my prediction) given the Spurs’ changes and the hit their defense will take after losing Tim Duncan for Pau Gasol and David Lee.
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The second unit defense is a concern and the bench hasn’t taken a clear step forward, although that was never overly likely to begin with. However, with the signings made to keep some depth and the comeback of Griffin (motivated after new hate and heading into a contract year), there’s little doubt that having a superstar return for (ideally) 47 more games than last season isn’t going to give the LA Clippers a chance to win an additional six or seven games in all those extra appearances.