Will The Los Angeles Clippers Make The Playoffs?

[rondohondo]

After a slow start, the Clippers have come on strong . They are 7-3 in the last 10 games. They have also beat San Antonio and Miami this year and lost on a last second shot against the Lakers.

They are currently 13-24 and 6 games back of the 8th seed Portland and 8 games back of the #7 seed Denver.

I don't see the Nuggets making the playoffs once they trade Melo to NY and Portland is always injured . Griffin is an absolute beast , and once Kaman gets back ( hopefully he can stay healthy ) they will have a roster of

PG: Baron Davis   / Eric Bledsoe      /  Randy Foye
SG: Eric Gordon   / Rasual Butler
SF: Ryan Gomes    / Al-Farouq Aminu
PF: Blake Griffin / Ike Diogu        / Craig Smith
 C: Chris Kaman   / DeAndre Jordan

This is a very deep roster with a young stud ( potential superstar) player. A vet former all-star PG , a young borderline allstar in Eric Gordon ( USA basketball really helped him this past summer) and a borderline allstar Center.

I hope and think they will make it to the playoffs this year. It would be great to see a Lakers vs Clippers first round series .

[Lucky17]

I say no. Team is still too young, plus I expect one or more of the Clips' most important players (Kaman, Davis, and Gordon) to lose time due to injury.

Griffin is dealing with back problems at the moment, too. At the rate/intensity with which he plays, he's also a candidate for injury.

[Who]

For the final two playoff spots ... I think Memphis, Denver, Houston, Phoenix and Portland all have a better chance of making the cut than the Clippers.

Small chance, extremely small chance. Highly unlikely.

So, I'll say no.

[PosImpos]

No, because there's no way they maintain the current level they're playing at.  They are not going to suddenly turn into a 55-60 win caliber team for the rest of the season, which is what they'd have to do in order to earn a playoff spot.

[Fafnir]

No way they make it, they have a brutual road trip coming up with a lot of games on it (including back to backs). Mostly against average to good teams. They'll probably go 3-8 or 4-7 during that stretch.

That will likely doom their playoff chances.

[fairweatherfan]

Maybe next year...this year they'll have to settle for playing the spoiler. 

This team could be stacked in a couple years with Sota's unprotected 2012 pick.  If they can develop their young guys and get Griffin to stay they could be very good.  Of course, most of us have seen this movie before, though.

[LakersFan_33]

Unfortunately, no. I just think their 1-13 start is just too hard to overcome. Next year, barring major injuries, I like their chances.

[Overrated]

They're fun to watch, but no, the West is just too good and too deep for a mediocre team to get in. I wish Griffin played in the East 

[dpaps]

If they pull of the trade Bill Simmons proposed today for Carmelo. They'd have a lineup of

Baron
Eric Gordon
Carmelo
Blake
Jordan

with Gomes, Bledsoe, Al Harrington off the bench

Now this team could really go on a run and make a push for the playoffs, and if they get in, watch out. As currently constituted, they'll have a real tough time making up the ground.

[dasani]

I think they dug themselves too much in a hole in the beginning to get there.

[Finkelskyhook]

If for some reason they manage to make the playoffs Sterling will immediately fire DelNegro and blow up the team.

[GreenEnvy]

I think they dug themselves too much in a hole in the beginning to get there.

Agreed.

Unfortunately it doesn't seem realistic. They'd have to play .622% ball just to finish .500 at this point. Besides being a tough pace to sustain, is that even enough? Eight teams in the west are over .513 (Portland is 8th... will they drop off with all their injuries?).

[LarBrd33]

they'd have to go 28-17 to finish .500.  It's not far fetched when you have one of the most dominant big men alive.  Statistically... Blake is a top 5 player this year.  Definitely possible.