Los Angeles Clippers 2014-2015 NBA Preview: Chris Paul, Blake And Lob City Aiming High

The Los Angeles Clippers have always come up short in previous seasons in their bid for an NBA title. This is the season when they finally have the tools and most importantly the experience to go all the way to the title.

The Clippers are now the runaway number one team in Hollywood with Los Angeles rival, Lakers expected to be a lottery team once again. But for the Clippers, even outdoing the Lakers is not enough; they need to win an NBA championship to validate their status as not only the best in L.A. but the entire league.

Los Angeles Clippers Roster (Projected Starters in Bold):

PG - Chris Paul, Jordan Farmar

SG - J.J. Redick, Jamal Crawford, C.J. Wilcox, Jared Cunningham

SF - Matt Barnes, Reggie Bullock, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Joe Ingles

PF - Blake Griffin, Glen Davis

C - DeAndre Jordan, Spencer Hawes

Offseason Losses: Darren Collison

Offseason Additions: Spencer Hawes, Jordan Farmar

The Clippers will be bringing back virtually the same line-up from the 2013-2014 season and maybe even improved in some back-up positions. The primary back-up big man is stretch 4/5 Spencer Hawes, who can play in both PF and C positions. Hawes skill set is a nice change up from the ultra-athletic combo of Jordan (10.4 points and 9.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots per game in 2013-2014 regular season) and Griffin (24.1 PPG and 9.5 RPG in 2013-2014) and should nicely fit with either player inside the court.

The Clippers lost Darren Collison to the Sacramento Kings in the offseason but they gained Jordan Farmar, who can be effective at the PG spot. LAC won’t survive any long-term injury to Chris Paul however and he remains arguable the no. 1 point guard in the entire league. For additional scoring on the wings, the Clippers will look to Redick (13.3 PPG) and Crawford (15.5 PPG), two players that can break down the defence with their outside sniping.

Los Angeles Clippers Training Camp video:

(YouTube/Basketball Orbit)

Doc Rivers is an experienced head coach and knows that this could be their best shot at an NBA title in his years with the Hollywood squad. The San Antonio Spurs have recently won the NBA title but their key players, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are also getting old. Their other rival for West supremacy, at least on paper, are the Oklahoma City Thunder, who will be missing top star Kevin Durant for the first two months of the season.