Los Angeles Clippers Season Preview, Win Total Prediction and Playoff Odds

Paul George carried the Los Angeles Clippers on an improbable run to the Western Conference Finals last season with Kawhi Leonard sidelined to an ACL injury. 

There’s a chance that Leonard will miss the entire 2021-22 season with the injury, but Los Anglees showed it could win games, and important ones, with him out of the lineup. 

Can the Clippers do that for an entire season? The oddsmakers at WynnBET aren’t so sure. 

While George played arguably his best basketball in a Clippers uniform with Leonard out, Vegas isn’t buying that Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris and Terance Mann can replicate last season’s Western Conference Finals run. 

The Clippers shipped Patrick Beverley out of town this offseason for Eric Bledsoe, but outside of draft picks Keon Johnson and Brandon Boston Jr., L.A. is content on running it back. 

Serge Ibaka’s return from a back injury will help, but Tyronn Lue will have his work cut out for him trying to replace Leonard’s production. Kawhi averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game last season, leading to an All-NBA First Team selection. 

If he returns this year the Clippers may have some betting value, but until then they’re going to be fighting to avoid the NBA’s Play-In Tournament, according to the latest odds. 

Los Angeles Clippers Win Total Prediction | 45.5 (Over -105/Under -116)

This seems like an accurate prediction for the Clippers this season, as George is still one of the game’s best players, but the ceiling for this team is limited until Leonard returns. 

Lue is one of the best coaches in the NBA, and his ability to make adjustments last postseason was a big reason the Clippers found themselves in the Western Conference Finals. Obviously, Leonard was a big reason too, but having quality coaching to get the most out of this roster will matter in the 2021-22 season. 

I actually like the Bledsoe addition, as he gives the Clippers a lot more help on offense than Beverly, and that’s going to be needed this season. 

Jackson was unbelievable in the playoffs, and while there is some regression coming, I still think he is an underrated scorer and player for Lue’s squad. I like the -105 value on the over, but I’d wait until we get to the season (in case of another injury) before fully backing the Clippers. 

Los Angeles Clippers Playoff Odds

I’m actually surprised by the Clippers’ playoff odds this season at WynnBET, as they’re -275 to make the postseason and +225 to miss. 

I understand adjusting for the Leonard injury, but the Golden State Warriors (-600) have much better playoff odds and we don’t know exactly when or what Klay Thompson will be when he returns. Golden State missed the playoffs last season while the Clippers made a deep playoff run, and they knocked off the top-seeded Utah Jazz without Leonard in the final games.

These odds put Los Angeles in the play-in tournament area, and while the Los Angeles Lakers will be better and likely push everyone down, I don’t think the Clippers fall out of the top six in the West that easily. 

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