Clippers one piece away from being really good...

[Celtics4ever]

how many teams aren't?

Aye, which was exactly my point.

[snively]

The Clips will certainly be an offensive juggernaut.  Defense will be sketchy.

[Who]

The Clips will certainly be an offensive juggernaut.  Defense will be sketchy.

I think their Championship hopes will hinge on DeAndre Jordan's improvement as a defender.

If he can make a leap this year, he could put the Clippers in the mix.

[Kane3387]

They're just as talented as anyone out west. They can compete with anyone in the league. People underestimate how much better Deandre Jordan will b playing with CP3. He's guaranteed 8-10 points just off alley oops. Obviously Griffin and Paul will do their thing. Billups and Butler will be solid and Mo Williams is a nice sixth man in a Jason Terry role.

Gomes and Foye are solid and could be moved for a backup center. This team is legit. Dallas and LA are worse then last year. San Antonio a year older. Memphis will and OKC will be at the top of this conference as well.

[StartOrien]

I think they're going to need to add a quick, defensive minded 2 or 3. Not only to help with the wing scorers in the west, but because I think they're probably still susceptible in the post. If they could get another defender with Paul to cause trouble w/ passing lanes they could really have something. 

[Kane3387]

I think they're going to need to add a quick, defensive minded 2 or 3. Not only to help with the wing scorers in the west, but because I think they're probably still susceptible in the post. If they could get another defender with Paul to cause trouble w/ passing lanes they could really have something. 

What wings in the west will they really have trouble with besides Durant, Kobe, and Gay? Lakers are on the decline. They're barely a contender with the oldest backcourt in the league and no bench or depth. OKC has to figure out how to make Westbrook a better PG and Memphis has to show they can do it. Durant is the only guy they really have to worry about. Butler can handle his own against Gay and if the Clippers are smart they let Kobe go for 45 every night at the expense of his teammates involvement in the game.

[clover]

With the DW to Nets rumors heating up again it is looking like Stern's new policy is "No big-market team left behind'.

[StartOrien]

I think they're going to need to add a quick, defensive minded 2 or 3. Not only to help with the wing scorers in the west, but because I think they're probably still susceptible in the post. If they could get another defender with Paul to cause trouble w/ passing lanes they could really have something. 

What wings in the west will they really have trouble with besides Durant, Kobe, and Gay? Lakers are on the decline. They're barely a contender with the oldest backcourt in the league and no bench or depth. OKC has to figure out how to make Westbrook a better PG and Memphis has to show they can do it. Durant is the only guy they really have to worry about. Butler can handle his own against Gay and if the Clippers are smart they let Kobe go for 45 every night at the expense of his teammates involvement in the game.

The Clippers shouldn't be concerned with their ability to defend against the West's best teams?

[Fafnir]

I think they're going to need to add a quick, defensive minded 2 or 3. Not only to help with the wing scorers in the west, but because I think they're probably still susceptible in the post. If they could get another defender with Paul to cause trouble w/ passing lanes they could really have something. 

What wings in the west will they really have trouble with besides Durant, Kobe, and Gay? Lakers are on the decline. They're barely a contender with the oldest backcourt in the league and no bench or depth. OKC has to figure out how to make Westbrook a better PG and Memphis has to show they can do it. Durant is the only guy they really have to worry about. Butler can handle his own against Gay and if the Clippers are smart they let Kobe go for 45 every night at the expense of his teammates involvement in the game.

Harden/Durant OKC
Allen/Gay Memphis
Kobe/? Lakers
Manu/? Spurs
Matthews/Wallace Portland
Evans/Casspi (?) Kings
Carter/Marion Mavs
Martin/Buddinger Rockets
Monta/Thompson Warriors
Hill/Pietrus (?) Suns
Gordon/Ariza Hornets
Johnson/Beasley Wolves
Gallanari/Afflalo Nuggets
Bell/Miles (Haywood/Evans) Utah

Their competition for the playoffs have wing combinations that will cause plenty of trouble if Butler doesn't show up suprisingly defensively. Or perhaps most importantly if Griffin/Jordon don't make a large leap defensively as a unit.

[StartOrien]

Plus, against a team like the Grizzlies, Jordan/Griffin are going to need all the help they can get. Butler/Billups can't provide much assistance there.