The Los Angeles Clippers looked destined for NBA Finals greatness last year before an implosion in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Houston Rockets. However, rather than wallowing in that misery, the organization has taken steps to ensure that such a disappointment isn't on the docket in 2015-16. With that being said, here's 3 Reasons To Be Optimistic About The 2015-16 Clippers.
3. Depth
The Los Angeles Clippers' biggest bugaboo down the stretch last season was a glaring lack of depth. Some of the team's oft-maligned role players started to kick it into gear at varying points in the playoffs (see: Rivers, Austin), but that was just paper over a giant hole in the team's rotation. Enter Lance Stephenson and Paul Pierce. Stephenson was a wreck last year in Charlotte, losing his shot and his confidence as the weeks went on. However, slot him behind the newly-acquired Paul Pierce at small forward and there's hope for a come-up. Stephenson's young, Pierce is clutch, Josh Smith is just chilling out there behind Blake Griffin.
The Clippers are DEEP now. Warriors fans, take heed. It won't be an easy ride this year.
2. Doc Rivers
Critics have started to jump on Rivers for some of his crunch-time decisions in recent years, forgetting just how crucial Rivers has been to fostering cohesion for a franchise that was on life support very recently. He was the captain of the ship through the Donald Sterling fiasco. He is the stabilizing factor that helped to recalibrate an on-court product that was lacking direction under Vinny Del Negro's watch. His tutelage and deft roster construction is a big reason why this Clippers team, and brand, has finally garnered national respect. This team won't stumble too far with Rivers running the show.
1. The Band Is Back Together
Say what you want about the DeAndre Jordan soap opera that unfolded in classic Taken (or Taken 2) fashion. Hostage jokes aside, the reason why the Clippers guarded Jordan so fiercely the night before the free-agent moratorium was lifted (thus yanking him out of the Mavs' grasp) is that Jordan is the inside-the-paint nerve center of Los Angeles' three-headed star monster. Blake Griffin and Chris Paul have so much more space to work with while Jordan plays the role of black hole down low. Space equals buckets. Buckets equal wins.
Don't let the second-round exit last postseason fool you. This team is a championship contender, especially with the band back together.
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