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LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS: SEASON PREDICTIONS

Season Predictions

Regular Season: My projection is probably under-estimating this Clippers team, as they are likely to win a game or two more. It wouldn’t really affect their seeding, however, as even if they got a better record than the fourth-seeded Trail Blazers, they would still be fifth as the division winners are guaranteed a top-4 spot, something the Blazers are and the Clippers are not. Anyways, Los Angeles has been dealing with superstar PF/C Blake Griffin’s latest injury, though he should return soon and round back into form in time for the playoffs. Superstar PG Chris Paul has really stepped up in his absence, and C Deandre Jordan is making his case for Defensive Player of the Year. Doc Rivers’ squad also has many shooters on the perimeter and depth everywhere, except perhaps up front. The CLippers look to poise themselves for another playoff run in the brutal West.

Projected Record: 53-29

Playoffs Round One
Portland Trail Blazers (#4) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (#5)

Speaking of the Trail Blazers. This is one heck of a team, led by superstars PG Damian Lillard and PF/C LaMarcus Aldridge, who should each form an exciting matchup with the Clippers’ superstars at their positions. In addition, the Blazers also feature a variety of shooters on the wing, boasting a Sixth Man of the Year candidate at the two, and a relative lack of depth up front all just like Los Angeles, though these teams are different in many ways. Lillard is a score-first guard, while Paul is pass-first. Aldridge likes to do his damage from mid-range, while Griffin down on the low block. SG/SF Arron Afflalo for Portland makes for an interesting second-unit matchup with SG Jamal Crawford of Los Angeles, with Afflalo liking to light it up from deep and Crawford preferring to cross-up and then drive on his defender. C Deandre Jordan is just an upgraded version of Blazers C Robin Lopez, but Portland’s superior wing is what can win them this series. As mentioned, Afflalo and Crawford pretty much cancel out, as does the rest of each teams’ second units, as they are practically even everywhere after Portland has done a lot of work in the past couple of years to revamp its bench, though the Clippers may still maintain a small edge. SG/SF Wesley Matthews is an even better sniper from long range than Clippers SG J.J Reddick, and can also do a few other things as well. SF/SG Nicolas Batum, though struggling, can still do just about everything on the court as well as shut down almost anyone, and SF Alonzo Gee is another valuable asset off the bench. This series will likely ultimately come down to the superstars, however, and my gut is that Lillard and Aldridge will out-shine Paul and Griffin and take down “Lob City”, as the Trail Blazers, and particularly Lillard, can really deliver in the clutch where it counts (just ask the Rockets last year).

Series Prediction: Portland wins 4-3
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