Throughout media day and training camp press conferences, all players and coaches for the LA Clippers have consistently said positive things. Worries have been eliminated, positive updates have been shared, and the entire roster is just as excited as the fans to get the show on the road.
Furthermore, beat writers and reporters for the Clippers have done an excellent job distributing news on all social media platforms, however, despite their efforts, major outlets have decided to put their own spin on the current roster in LA.
First, it was ESPN, disrespecting John Collins in their list of top 100 NBA players, as well as overlooking the type of offseason Lawrence Frank has had. Now, it is Bleacher Report, joining them through a prediction of the Clippers' regular-season record next season.
However, all these publications are doing is fueling the Clippers. This is ultimately a chip on their shoulders, but a good one, as it could be what they need to finally win a ring in LA.
Bleacher Report predicts the LA Clippers to go 45-37 next season
In a win-loss predictions article for every team in the NBA, pieced together by Grant Hughes, a writer for Bleacher Report, the LA Clippers are projected to win 45 games next season, losing 37. This just seems off, as they won 50 last season and improved in the summer.
Moreover, just like most outlets, the reason for the decline is age. Hughes added to the Clippers' rationale that many of the players they will need could be on a slippery slope, and that Kawhi Leonard is likely to be sidelined for half of the year.
However, at the very end of his justification, Hughes compared the Clippers' age to that of the Golden State Warriors. This does not make sense, as he has the Warriors going 47-35 next season, despite most of their stars being older than LA's.
Not to mention that the Warriors have just added Al Horford, a 39-year-old center who will start for Steve Kerr, yet he will be older than every starter Tyronn Lue will deploy.
That said, at heart, the Clippers know what the reality will be next season. Even if some guys face injuries, the team has enough depth to remain dominant and win more than fifty games. This realization has already occurred among fans and will eventually spread throughout the NBA community.