I am thinking both our picks are going to be 18-25

[ctrey]

The Clippers may end up having a better record than we will. Man, our luck has been awful this year.

[Cman]

The Clippers may end up having a better record than we will. Man, our luck has been awful this year.

what's with all the negativity? let's see how the season goes.

[RyNye]

Yeah, calm thyself. We want their pick to fall in the 10-20 range ANYWAY, because it's top 10 protected. I find it hard to believe they will improve that much; that would be a huge single season turnaround for such a young team, especially since they lack any sort of depth.

[ctrey]

What during our off-season gives you cause to be optimistic? Pierce already has a foot injury, Green is out for the season, we did not get West (Indiana beat us out for crying out loud)our bench is no better than last year and we will need them more. Now the Clips pick is going to be well out of the lottery.

If you can show evidence to have optimism, show it.

[ctrey]

RyNye,

They have two of the 15 best players in the league. I will bet you right now they will have a better record than we will.

Our pick will be around 18 and the Clipper pick will be around 22.

I am willing to bet. Are you?

[Kane3387]

So much can happen during the season. An injury to a guy like Boozer or Bosh for the year. A trade for the Celtics. Signing a guy like JR Smith and or Kenyon Martin. It's premature to get all down and out. Maybe we luck out in the playoffs and one of the Bulls or Heat get eliminated by a Knicks team they don't match up well with. So much could happen in a condensed season that people need to chill.

[ctrey]

I love how anyone who does not have blind faith on the site gets thrashed for being a "Downer"

People who get paid to write about the NBA do not put much stock in the C's now that Green is out.

I think that is a fair evaluation. I think we will slip back this year.

[Rondo2287]

I love how anyone who does not have blind faith on the site gets thrashed for being a "Downer"

People who get paid to write about the NBA do not put much stock in the C's now that Green is out.

I think that is a fair evaluation. I think we will slip back this year.

While I want the C's to win as much as the next guy is that a bad thing for the long term?  We obviously are going to start rebuilding, and this years draft is very deep.  Having two first rounders could be very useful both shorterm and long term.

[RyNye]

What during our off-season gives you cause to be optimistic?

We've covered almost every weakness we had?

Pierce already has a foot injury, Green is out for the season, we did not get West (Indiana beat us out for crying out loud)our bench is no better than last year and we will need them more.

False. Did you even SEE last year's bench?

Now the Clips pick is going to be well out of the lottery.

Proof? Oh, right, you have none, your conjecture is just as baseless as mine.

If you can show evidence to have optimism, show it.

Don't act as if I am coming in making some controversial claim here, kid. This works both ways: "If you can show evidence to have pessimism, show it."

They have two of the 15 best players in the league.

And we have three Hall of Famers and two proven All-Stars. Your point?

I will bet you right now they will have a better record than we will.

And I will bet you they won't.

Our pick will be around 18 and the Clipper pick will be around 22.

I am willing to bet. Are you?

Without a doubt.

I love how anyone who does not have blind faith on the site gets thrashed for being a "Downer"

Are you joking? Have you even READ any of the threads on this site? Most of the people here are unreasonably pessimistic, talking about Rondo for Nash trades and all sorts of nonsense.

People who get paid to write about the NBA do not put much stock in the C's now that Green is out.

People who get paid to write about the NBA thought the Miami Heat would win the title last year.

(On a side note, did you know that professional sports analysts have the same success rate as flipping a coin? It's true, look it up. There's no real reason to trust their predictions any more than your own.)

[TA9]

So what? ... nothing to do about it know.
And the whole Clippers organization is Jinxed, someone will get injured soon lol.

[Moranis]

Yeah, calm thyself. We want their pick to fall in the 10-20 range ANYWAY, because it's top 10 protected. I find it hard to believe they will improve that much; that would be a huge single season turnaround for such a young team, especially since they lack any sort of depth.

They have plenty of backcourt depth.  They are a bit light up front, but they are plenty talented.  I'd say they would be a 45-50 win team (over 82), which is probably what the Celtics are as well.

[jgod213]

"That's why they play the game..."



Seriously though, just because you don't have a great team on paper doesn't mean you just cash out on the season.  Add in the fact that it's an abbreviated schedule and i think we're in for a lot of twists and turns this year.  Clearly the C's are facing a ton of adversity, but i'm looking foward to seeing how the old dogs respond!

[RyNye]

They have plenty of backcourt depth.  They are a bit light up front, but they are plenty talented.  I'd say they would be a 45-50 win team (over 82), which is probably what the Celtics are as well.

They are talented, but still raw. Jordan has a LOT of potential, but still has never managed better than a 7-for-7 season. All last year he never took a shot from outside of 10 feet! Griffin has never been a force on defense. Ever. Sometimes I think that they sneakily sub him out between possessions and nobody notices (jk). Billups is great, but has to adjust to a new role. Caron Butler ... who knows? Big unknown there with age and injury.

Their bench ... bleh.

They are definitely a good team, but they all need to show a lot of improvement. And Hollinger's take on Paul's assist totals are ... a bit concerning.

[xmuscularghandix]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vQaVIoEjOM

[jgod213]

They have plenty of backcourt depth.  They are a bit light up front, but they are plenty talented.  I'd say they would be a 45-50 win team (over 82), which is probably what the Celtics are as well.

They are talented, but still raw. Jordan has a LOT of potential, but still has never managed better than a 7-for-7 season. All last year he never took a shot from outside of 10 feet! Griffin has never been a force on defense. Ever. Sometimes I think that they sneakily sub him out between possessions and nobody notices (jk). Billups is great, but has to adjust to a new role. Caron Butler ... who knows? Big unknown there with age and injury.

Their bench ... bleh.

They are definitely a good team, but they all need to show a lot of improvement. And Hollinger's take on Paul's assist totals are ... a bit concerning.

Pacific Division:

LA Clippers
Golden State
Phoenix
Sacramento
LA Lakers

You telling me the Clippers aren't neck and neck with the Lakers for that Division right now?