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The LA Clippers have an interesting season ahead of them. Their 2021-22 campaign will start without Kawhi Leonard, and there's a chance he won't take part in any of it as he recovers from surgery on his partially torn ACL. The Clippers, however, did a good job structuring their roster around Paul George this offseason given their incredibly limited options.
Here are my three, way-too-early bold predictions for the 2021-22 Clippers season:
1. Clippers will win at least 48 games
The LA Clippers finished last year's 72-game season with 47 wins, just five games out of the first seed in the West. Without Kawhi for much of the season, a drop off is certainly expected for the Clippers. All the pre-season predictions are likely going to place the Clippers between the 7th and 10th seeds in the West. Don't be surprised, however, if the team outperforms those predictions.
The Clippers have built their roster this offseason around Paul George. They re-signed Reggie Jackson, who will play the role of a second-tier scorer, and Nicolas Batum, the team's do-it-all French Army Knife. They also signed Justise Winslow, who will be a solid defender and ball-handler for the team, while trading for Eric Bledsoe, a two-time All-Defensive team member who can handle the ball and put pressure on opposing defenses with his rim attacks.
In addition to free agency and the trade, the Clippers came out of the 2021 NBA Draft with three rookies all signed to guaranteed deals.
Add on to all of that the postseason of experience now under the belts of Terance Mann and Luke Kennard, and this team should be able to mesh seamlessly and reach the 48-win plateau even if Kawhi Leonard misses most of the year. In the ever-competitive Western Conference, 48 wins essentially guarantees you a playoff berth.
2. Paul George will be a top-2 MVP candidate
Paul George is going to have every opportunity to carry the Clippers throughout the regular season and, hopefully, into a playoff spot come April.
Throughout an insanely compact postseason schedule, George showed that he could put the team on his back time and time again, leading them past the Utah Jazz, in part, without Kawhi Leonard and taking two games off the Phoenix Suns without him as well.
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In eight postseason games without Leonard, Paul George averaged 29.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 2.6 three-pointers per game on 43.8 percent shooting from the field and 30.4 percent from three. The low field goal percentage can be attributed to fatigue, as the Clippers were essentially the least rested team after their first round series with the Dallas Mavericks went seven games. On top of that, George was managing a bone edema injury in his foot since January.
In 1,028 minutes with both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard on the court last season, the Clippers had a 17.6 net rating. In the 793 minutes with Paul George on the court and Kawhi Leonard off, the Clippers had a net rating of 3.5. Not incredible, but the certainly something to work with next season.
The Clippers will surely monitor and pace George's workload over the course of the 82-game season, but there's no reason to believe George won't be primed for an MVP-caliber campaign. The dual shoulder surgeries and the NBA bubble are in the rear view mirror, and with a team built around his strengths, George should have a big year.
3. Clippers will be the best 3-point shooting team… Again
The Clippers finished the 2020-21 regular season as the best three-point shooting team in the NBA at 41.1 percent. Second and third place were tied between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks at 39.2 percent.
This offseason, the Clippers lost Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu. Reggie Jackson, Nicolas Batum, Kawhi Leonard Eric Bledsoe, and Justise Winslow were the additions.
The Clippers had nine players shoot over 40 percent from beyond the arc last season and 12 players shoot better than the league average from beyond the arc. Granted, Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins' sample sizes were smaller given their acquisition dates, but Tyronn Lue's offense was implemented smoothly and to perfection.
Everyone knows Bledsoe and Winslow aren't great shooters, and they'll likely be tasked with creating three-point opportunities than taking them. That's not to say that they won't attempt some threes, but Lue will focus on getting an extra drive or pass off for better shooters.
Looking at how the Clippers structured their roster this offseason, there's a good chance they'll be one of the better shooting teams. Could they be the best once again? It's very much possible, and I predict that it will happen.
