Fansided

NBA: Contender Or Pretender?

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 20, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) drives past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) at Value City Arena. Cleveland won the game 107-98. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) drives past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) at Value City Arena. Cleveland won the game 107-98. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 11
Next
NBA
Oct 17, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin is introduced before the game against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Los Angeles Clippers

Contender:

The Los Angeles Clippers were a contender last year; they just ran into the Kevin Durant-Russell Westbrook bandsaw in the playoffs, an even more difficult matchup with the whole Donald Sterling controversy going on. Now they’ve got the star point guard, the MVP-caliber power forward, the brilliant head coach, the non-racist new owner and a backup big in Spencer Hawes. It’s title of bust this year for Lob City.

With Durant out for 6-8 weeks and the Spurs no longer motivated by a revenge trip to the Finals, the Clippers have a pretty good chance of winning a title if they can just escape the kill-or-be-killed West. Blake Griffin has apparently added a little more range to his jumper and it’s time for Chris Paul to start delivering on his status as “best point guard in the league.” Lob City is on a mission and I don’t envy anyone who gets in their way.

Pretender:

The Clippers are one of the best teams in the West, but the Spurs and a fully healthy Thunder team still project to be better somehow. CP3 is either cursed or shrinks in the playoffs or both, but no matter the case, his union with Griffin hasn’t led to a substantial playoff run yet. Losing Darren Collison might hurt the Clips more than people realize too.

Still, Los Angeles has the star power to compete with anybody on any given night. They were the league’s highest scoring offense last year and there’s no way this team isn’t a contender, even with Collison gone and CP3’s postseason curse to consider.

Verdict: Contender

Home/Chicago Bulls