Los Angeles Clippers
Vegas Over/Under: 43.5
Fromal’s Record Projection: 42-40 The Bet: Prevent but lean under
The way you feel about this over/under probably depends on one crucial question: Just how simple is replacement Chris Paul?
The Los Angeles Clippers did a fantastic job reloading after learning that Paul desired a death to the Houston Rockets. Not only did they manage to pry some assets away from his new home in a trade after he chosen in, but they also convinced Blake Griffin to re-sign before adding Danilo Gallinari and Milos Teodosic into the fold.
This is a gifted roster with ability and upside at just about every position. It’s far deeper than it has been in previous years, however head coach Doc Rivers surely didn’t want to acquire depth at the cost of his team’s best player.
And that is the issue.
Paul was not only the engine which made the Clippers run; he basically was the Clippers.
Patrick Beverley and Teodosic ought to be solid replacements in the 1, but they can’t replicate his ability to run the offense perfectly.
Whether Paul was calling his own band or setting up teammates, he commanded the flow of the game as well as anyone. It is why LAC was a shocking 19.6 points per 100 possessions better with him around the ground in 2016-17, in addition to why he finished No. 2 overall in ESPN.com’s actual plus/minus, behind only LeBron James.
His job simply can not be replicated.
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