The Los Angeles Clippers are coming off their best season yet, at least based on how far they got in the playoffs. They finally made it to the Western Conference finals and could have arguably even won the championship had it not been for Kawhi Leonard’s ACL injury.

But now that Leonard is expected to be sidelined for quite some time, the Clippers are stuck in between contention and at the middle of the West. 

All that said, there’s still a window for the Clippers to compete for a title this 2021-22. If they manage to stay afloat in the competitive West and get Leonard back just in time for the playoffs, then they’ll definitely be in the contention bracket once again. In the meantime, they’ll have to just make do without Leonard, which they’ve proven they can achieve.

With that said, here are four bold predictions for the Clips as they start the season without one of the best players in the game this year.

Los Angeles Clippers 2021-22 Predictions

4. Clippers will remain in the Top 6 of the West

Just because Leonard is out, a lot of betting sites and so-called “analysts” have dismissed the Clippers and even said that they would be a play-in team. We have to disagree.

The Clippers proved they're deep enough to manage the work without Leonard. They were able to defeat a Utah Jazz team in six games and were two games away from the finals in 2021. A lot of this will have to do with Paul George’s performance, and whether or not guys like Eric Bledsoe, Terance Mann, Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard and Marcus Morris Sr. can contribute play beyond their roles. 

3. Paul George is going to have an MVP season

With Leonard out, expect George to handle the ball more and pick up the scoring load. That’s actually where George is most deadly—when he has the ball in his hands at all times. If Stepen Curry was a top three pick for the MVP while being a play-in team last season, then there’s definitely a chance for George to make it this 2021-22.

The key for George to do just that is by staying healthy, finding his rhythm early and being aggressive on both ends to start the season. 

3. Breakout season for Terance Mann, Reggie Jackson

The Clippers’ inspiring run last season would have not been possible had it not been for Reggie Jackson and Terance Mann — two players who have captured the hearts of the Clippers fanbase. 

Jackson looked like he couldn’t miss a shot throughout that Phoenix Suns series, while Mann proved he can live up to the moment, contribute on defense, and find ways to score on offense. These two role players will be key to the Clippers’ success this 2021-22 and must play beyond what their roles requires in order for the team to make it far (which they are very much capable of doing).

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1. Ty Lue will be a Coach of the Year finalist

If there’s one thing Ty Lue has proven last season, it’s that he can win without LeBron James and Kyrie Irving’s superpowers. His playoff adjustments and rotations were a big reason why the Clippers managed to make it far.

This season will be a huge task for Lue, but he’s also proven he’s more than capable of leading his team beyond everyone’s expectations. 

Lue has helped a lot in changing the Clippers’ culture. He’s built an offense that gets every single Clipper involved and made the team an offensive juggernaut. Lue doesn’t take the credit often, but what he’s done for the franchise so far has already put him in the conversation as one of the best coaches in the league. The best coaches are those who adjust well come playoff time and those that find ways to put their team in position to succeed—that’s exactly what the one -time champion did last season. 

It’s going to be a more difficult year for the Clippers as they continue to battle injuries, but they’ve shown last year that they can handle any adversity that comes their way. It doesn’t help that their schedule is primed to be one of, if not the most difficult in the NBA, but they’ve also embraced this. That’s the thing about this Clippers team, they’re going to keep fighting and put their head down until they can no longer do so.