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Los Angeles Clippers
By Bryan Williams, NBA.com
SEASON OUTLOOK: The Clippers are commanding plenty of preseason attention as the team with a legitimate shot at shaking up the Western Conference hierarchy, and rightfully so. Last season, they were in position to make the playoffs going into the final month, but couldn't overcome a tough schedule, going 5-12 over their last 17 games and finishing ninth. Then the team known as a sieve of quality talent went out and helped itself with some smart wheeling and dealing, acquiring point guard Andre Miller from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for reserve swingman Darius Miles. If there was one thing L.A. needed to facilitate its formidable potential on offense, it was a proven playmaker running the point; Miller led the NBA in assists last year, averaging 10.9 per game for a team that had virtually no front line. And though he looks to pass first, like Jason Kidd, Miller brings an all-around game to his position with consistent scoring (16.5 ppg) and rebounding (4.7 rpg, third among point guards behind Kidd and Gary Payton). Of course, Miller will now be feeding an All-Star with his passes into the post. Elton Brand goes relatively unnoticed with the glut of great power forwards out West, but the quiet star has been an automatic double-double since he entered the league three years ago. Last season -- while scoring 18.2 points per game -- he ranked among the league's top five in both rebounding (11.6 rpg) and field-goal percentage (.527) and was just dominant on the offensive boards, averaging a staggering 5.0 per game to lead the NBA and posting the highest single-season total (396) since 1997-98. In addition to their core of Brand and Miller, the Clips boast a premiere outside shooter in Quentin Richardson, re-signed center Michael Olowokandi, who began showing some real ability toward the end of last year, and will have Lamar Odom back in the lineup; the 6-10 swingman averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 2000-01 but played in only 29 games last season due to wrist and ankle injuries.
WHO'S IN: Besides importing Miller (along with Bryant Stith) via the Cavs trade, L.A. added some frontcourt depth through the draft, selecting big forwards Chris Wilcox (6-10, 221) and Marvin Ely (6-10, 260). The Clips also bring in guard Marko Jaric, their 2000 second-round pick out of Yugoslavia. While Jaric is expected to contribute right away backing up both the one and two spots, Wilcox and Ely aren't likely to see big minutes behind Brand and Olowokandi. WHO'S OUT: Miles (9.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and Harold Jamison went to Cleveland in the trade for Miller, and free agent point guard Jeff McInnis (14.6 ppg, 6.2 apg) -- for obvious reasons -- signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in August. BENCH: Solid. Corey Maggette (11.4 ppg) and Eric Piatkowski (8.8 ppg, .466 three-point pct.) were both starters for much of last year and will figure prominently into the rotation, while youngsters Jaric, Ely, Wilcox and Keyon Dooling will push veteran role players Stith and Sean Rooks for playing time. THE CLIPPERS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS IF ... : Their young but supremely talented starting five develops the chemistry and confidence to start knocking off the West's playoff-caliber teams with regularity. THE CLIPPERS MISS THE PLAYOFFS IF ... : The maturation process is slow enough that their skills are eclipsed by their inexperience. |
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