After this trade what makes Clippers better (on paper) than last seasons Celtics that makes them think they can win the chip?
After trade vs Celtics last season:
CP3-RR: pretty much a wash in the playoffs
Billups- AB: I say its a wash b/c both players do damage on one end. I don't see Billups giving more than AB. (don't go by AB in this playoffs b/c with RR he would have had a different role). Plus Billups is getting older and more worn by the second.
PP vs. Butler: PP wins this
Blake vs. Sully or Bass: Well this goes to Blake no question.
KG vs. KG: Well KG will be older and coming off an injury which might need surgery and we had him as fit as a fiddle most of the season. There was even talk that it was the best he felt in years going into the season (really he was healthy most of it b4 he was forced into a bazillion minutes)
Now for Key reserves
Clipps (after trade)- Crawford, Barnes, Odom, Hollins (yea lol.)
Celtics (last season)- Jeff Green, Jet, Lee, Bass/Sully, Barbosa, Collins (yea lol).
Crawford vs. Jet: Crawford wins this regular season for sure but let's think of this in terms of championship which is what this about, Jet stepped up excellently in the playoffs, let's imagine how much better he could have been in the playoffs had we actually had someone competent running our offense like RR. I call this a wash.
Barnes vs. Green: To me Green takes this in the playoffs b/c while RR was healthy Green had big games, he only needed time to get into basketball shape to start doing it more consistently... it wasn't that RR was out that let Green shine, I think it had more to do with Green getting into game shape to do what he was doing in his good games WITH RR, more consistently.
Odom vs. Sully or Bass: I give the edge to either one of Sully or Bass b/c we aren't talking about LA Lakers Odom here.
Hollins vs. Collins: Now this is funny! I say Collins wins this b/c of how well Collins performed in the playoffs the season b4 against us. I mean he was nothing to brag about but he stepped up HUGE for ATL when Horford was out!
Then we have extra good players for the Celtics that deserve mention:
Barbosa, Wilcox, and Lee... remember, after the trade Clipps don't have anyone else that deserves mention, Bledsoe is in the package to us. Well I could assume that Lee or Terry would be on the Clipps but who are we getting from the Clippers that subtracts from their team, Butler? So I won't mess with fillers for now.
What makes the new Clippers, after the trade, Better than the Celtics of last season (on paper)?
Then let's not forget chemistry. At this moment KG hasn't played with any of them... there is no sure thing we will let PP walk to end up there, lots of stuff to go through before that's even a possibility. At least with us KG had PP and RR (Bass, Green, AB), that he had chemistry with for a few seasons. Of course Doc would be there but he doesn't play. Then think about the Clippers ALL, besides KG, having to learn Doc's system... I mean, you see how hard it is every season when we bring in a few new guys, now imagine it for a ENTIRELY new team!
What makes that Clippers team better than last season's Celtics? I think on paper our team last season would have a better chance of winning the championship than the new Clippers team. I know some of you will say Blake but I think by just singling him out you miss out on other factors.... like a new coach, new system, chemistry (we had to deal with it but on paper we only really added 2 NEW key guys in Jet and Lee, no one thought it was going to be so hard), KG's health and age (may need surgery), Billups' health and age, and Doc's system deserves another mention... with more things sprinkled into it.
Sure Clippers are going to add more players but it's not like they are going to have money for anyone good. It's not like there are many good players out there that they could afford... b/c other teams need those players too and Mia will be getting the best (once again) of those ring chasers/good players (NYK, Nets, LA, Pacers, and a few more CONTENDERS looking to get some of that same cheap talent).
Edit: I forgot to add in that KG will be lucky to make it to the playoffs b/c he has to contend with something A LOT more than he did with us in the East. Bruising centers... he'll be facing Dwight, Asik, and Randolph/Gasol to name some... I mean, that's some bruising he's going to be taking nightly in the west!