With various questions ranging from the level of success the team will have to what the team chemistry will look like, fans of the LA Clippers will have all of their answers after the first quarter of the season.
Moreover, head coach Tyronn Lue could take the exact blueprint he used last season, even though the Clippers will be under different circumstances. This is because James Harden will still be the leader, yet multiple quality additions have been made, and Kawhi Leonard may be out for reasons unrelated to injury.
However, when the pieces come together and the first game comes around where the roster is healthy from top to bottom, the expectation will be for the Clippers to win by a mile, and this standard will be held until the postseason ends.
That said, the hype train for LA appears to be fifty-fifty in the NBA community. Many are sticking to the idea that they will succeed next season, given the additions made in the summer, and the opposite side is concerned about their age, as well as the potential penalty to Leonard. Additionally, John Hollinger, a senior writer for ‘The Athletic, ’ made his vote clear, and it is reasonable, but it could be higher.
John Hollinger believes the Clippers are a lock for 50 wins next season
As the LA Clippers won 50 games last season with Kawhi Leonard in uniform for 37 out of the 82, it feels like Tyronn Lue could maximize the team’s potential next season, if everyone is healthy, and win 60. This is the goal, and the bare minimum should be 55, considering all factors.
On the contrary, John Hollinger wrote in his latest piece how he predicts the Clippers to win at least 50 games next season.
Hollinger pointed out reasons why the Clippers will prosper, with the addition of a real ball handler in Chris Paul, but also expressed personal concerns about the team, such as a possible decline from James Harden and Ivica Zubac.
Albeit Harden and Zubac are in a much better situation, with their positions receiving top-notch depth from the front office over the summer. This will ease the pressure they face, making next season one in which they will each progress.
Nonetheless, the Clippers’ bottom line should be a couple of wins over Hollinger’s prediction, and this bar could rise as reports come out of certain players thriving in training camp.