The Clippers have the third worst record in the Western Conference and sit at 31-48. However, would things be different if they played in the top heavy, bottom weak East? Certainly, I think arguments could be made that the Clippers are better than Indiana, Milwaukee, and Charlotte, the three teams that have jockeyed for the final playoff spot in the East.
Why are the Clippers better than the Pacers, Bucks, and Bobcats? Simply because they have a legitimate superstar in Blake Griffin. Griffin is behind only Kevin Love and Dwight Howard, and only by three games, in double-doubles. He’s scored 25 or more 27 times this season and has a high game of 47, coincidentally against Indiana!
Added to the fact that the Clippers have Griffin and his 22 points and 12 rebounds a game is the fact that the Clippers have a legitimate second star in Eric Gordon. Gordon, like Griffin averages in excess of 22 points per game while shooting 45% from the field and 36.7% from three. Gordon played on the USA team last summer in the FIBA World Championships, and much like Derrick Rose, this season has served as a “coming out party” for the stars. Derrick Rose is a probable MVP and Gordon might be up for such considerations if he played on a better team. Perhaps that is a slight stretch, but Gordon is good — very good. His 4.3 assists per game ranks among the top shooting guards, behind players like Joe Johnson and Manu Ginobili. In fact, many of his assists will come in the future as a result of the 2-4 pick and roll with Griffin.
What of the other Clippers? Glad you asked. Let’s mention DeAndre Jordan as a significant piece moving forward, though the Clippers do have to re-sign him this offseason, something they plan on doing. The young and athletic center has stepped up his play and has averages of 6.9 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game in 25 minutes of play. His main contribution, however, is his interior defense. His 1.7 blocks per game ranks him 12th in the league despite playing less minutes than most of the leaders. He has had nine games with 4 or more blocks, and had a three game stretch in late Dec-Early January in which he blocked 6.3 shots per game. This has all been to the Clippers delight as former franchise center Chris Kaman has struggled badly with injuries. Whether he ever restores himself fully as the starting center is anyone’s guess, but the mere luxury of this is a serious asset for the Clippers.
Just imagine these pieces in the East. Griffin would probably average near 24 a game and DeAndre Jordan would match up well against Dwight Howard and Amar’e Stoudemire, giving the Clippers a legitimate chance to win those games.
The Clippers began the season 1-9 but went on to win 31 of their next 70, a respectable record in the West, but a playoff level record in the East.
I’m not suggesting that the Clippers would contend in the East. The East is so top heavy that no teams below the 4th seed have any chance of winning a championship. Comparatively, the top 6 teams in the West could all be considered potential Conference champs. The 6th seed, Portland, would rank as high as 4th in the East. The disparity between the conferences is pretty pronounced, however, and the Clippers would most likely be a playoff team in the East.
