Clipperholics
Fansided

Three players that will make or break the LA Clippers’ season

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 09: Danilo Gallinari #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers during warm up before the game against the Denver Nuggets on October 9, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 09: Danilo Gallinari #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers during warm up before the game against the Denver Nuggets on October 9, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 09: Danilo Gallinari #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers during warm up before the game against the Denver Nuggets on October 9, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 09: Danilo Gallinari #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers during warm up before the game against the Denver Nuggets on October 9, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

The LA Clippers have a tough road ahead of them this season if they intend to make the NBA Playoffs. Here are three players that are crucial to their success.

It’s finally opening day, as the LA Clippers are set to take on the Denver Nuggets in tonight’s 2018-2019 regular season opener. And unlike last season, the Clippers will begin this year a fully healthy roster.

The roster looks a bit different than it did for last year’s opener, too. Blake Griffin, Austin Rivers, and DeAndre Jordan have all departed Los Angeles, leaving behind their Lob City days. Also gone is Wesley Johnson, who up until this Monday was the longest-tenured member on the team.

That isn’t to say the Clippers have few returning players. Lou Williams signed an extension back in February that would keep him in Los Angeles for the next few years, and Luc Mbah a Moute has returned from a one-year stint with the Houston Rockets.

There’s also Tyrone Wallace, whose work on his two-way deal showed us all how ready he was to make an impact at the NBA level. And of course, we can’t forget Boban Marjanovic, who came over last season as part of the Blake Griffin trade.

This NBA season won’t come down to who’s new and who isn’t, though. Rather, LA’s success will depend largely on three key players, and maybe a few others.

One of those few others is Avery Bradley, who played just six games for Los Angeles last season before he was forced out with a sports hernia injury that required surgery. He makes up one half of what could be the NBA’s best defensive backcourt this season, and will play an important role for the Clippers.

Check out who else we feel could make the largest impact — or leave the biggest hole — on the next few slides.

Home/Clippers News