NBA: Grading each team’s 2014-2015 season

2nd. Pacific Division, Western Conference. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS. B. <p>With one of the worst benches in the NBA, the Los Angeles Clippers are in contention for the number two seed in the West. In short, their starters are <em>very</em> good at basketball.</p> <p>Chris Paul is a fringe MVP candidate, Blake Griffin is an elite power forward and DeAndre Jordan is having one of the best contract years imaginable while putting together a legitimate claim on the DPOY award. It must be noted that JJ Redick has had a career year in his own right, but Doc Rivers has built things around his trio of stars, and getting an 82-game slate from Chris Paul cannot be overstated in terms of importance.</p> <p>It is hard to reconcile how bad “GM Doc” has been in building this bench, and that is the only reason that Los Angeles isn’t a 60-win outfit. Still, very few people saw the Clippers as the <em>best</em> team in the West, and given that caveat, there is no room for disappointment as the potential number two seed. Worries about LA’s playoff chances, given their lack of depth, are warranted but from a regular season standpoint, 55+ victories can’t be discounted.</p>