yamaneko

If im not mistaken, the clippers are tied for 9th in the west, 1 game out of the last playoff spot. Here are the teams ahead of them:

Phoenix - Will definately have a losing streak sometime this season, but definately uncatchable. A lock for the playoffs.

Seattle - Has been also over achieving this year, but with a loosing streak, they are still pretty much uncatchable.

San Antonio - Definately in the playoffs, also uncatchable.

Sacramento - Definately in the playoffs.

Dallas - Definately in the playoffs.

Minnesota - Definately in the playoffs, barring injury to KG.

After that, I think the last two spots go to any number of teams. Right now the last two spots are:
Lakers
Houston
Lakers I believe have over achieved already, and might not make the playoffs even if kobe stays healthy. If hes injured, theyre definately out. Houston is no shoo-in as they lack the depth, but if ming and mcgrady get better chemistry, they might get the 7th or 8th spot.

After that, the clippers, portland, and denver are tied for the next spot. Portland is always volitile. Lots of potential, but cant seem to get it together at times. Definately the clippers can eclipse them. Denver has REALLY under achieved this year with the lineup they have. With the new coach, id pick them before the lakers.

After that, there is Utah who is going to make a run after kirilenko gets healthy, and thats about it. Golden state, Memphis, and new orleans probably have no chance at the playoffs just IMO.

Thus, its the Clippers VS. Lakers, portland, Denver, Houston, Utah for one of the last two spots.

If the clippers had been healthy ALL year up until now, they probably would be number 6 or 7. IF they DO get healthy SOON, and STAY healthy (kittles, jaric, livingston, kaman), Id say they have a decent chance at at least the 8th seed.

Heck, they have won 2 out of 3 with brunson and chalmers as their PG's. Imagine when the PG's are jaric, livingston and brunson. Imagine when they have kittles and magette at the SG instead of just Ross and magette. Imagine when Kaman gets 100% healthy....todays 13 poitns and 12 rebounds might be a regular thing.

Of course, every year, down the stretch injuries seem to hurt the clippers chances at doing anything, and they seem to implode for other reasons. Is this the year they return to the playoffs? This month that they will be without kittles, jaric, and livingston will determine i think if they make the playoffs. If they win at least 40-45% of their games WITHOUT those guys, i say they win 60% of their remaining games, which in the tough Western Conference MIGHT be enough for that 8th seed.

Can they win a playoff series this year? Probably not, but it would be a turnaround just to be in the playoffs....something to build upon for next year, something to show incoming freeagents next year that we can win, something to make the departing Free agents think twice about perhaps resigning instead of jumping ship. not to mention they can get rid of their useless first round pick that they owe this year, instead of next year in the deeper draft.

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08-09 Clippers - One more piece away from relativity

arenas809

This team we have right now is not a playoff team.

yamaneko

Do you mean with the players we have out? if so, yes thats what i said...its all dependent on when we get our three backcourt guys back.

If we make the playoffs, the guys we have now have got to go at least 40-45%

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08-09 Clippers - One more piece away from relativity

yamaneko

Ok, clippers tonight took over sole possession of 9th in the western conference. Half game back of the 8th place rockets, and 2 games back of the 6th placed tied lakers and Twolves. If the clippers can win the games against the teams they should, they have a chance!

Look out for memphis though who is half a game back from the clippers and have won4 in a row. I really didnt think they had a chance, but now theyre fired up.

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08-09 Clippers - One more piece away from relativity

Weasel

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DwyaneWade4MVP

The only chance for the clippers is the 8th seed, the others are out of reach, but they can challenge with Denver, Houston and Memphis!

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yamaneko

i wouldnt call 2 spots behind the lakers out of reach....maybe if it gets bigger (the gap) but right now, to say that it is out of reach is a reach.

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08-09 Clippers - One more piece away from relativity

arenas809

Yawn, who wants to make the playoffs just to lose in the 1st round to San Antonio?

I rather be a 6 seed and play Phoenix or Seattle and actually have a shot at winning a series.

This team is not a 6 seed, a move will need to be made that gets this team over the hump.

yamaneko

I said why. First off, its a stepping stone for greater things. Youd rather miss the playoffs than lose in the first round? Getting the clippers in the playoffs for the first time in years is HUGE for the organization, HUGE for keeping their players, HUGE for attracting new players. It also gets rid of their draft pick this year, in one of the weakest drafts in years, and allows them to keep next year's pick in the deeper draft.

By the way, GUESS WHO IS in 8TH PLACE IN THE PLAYOFF RACE?

Yep, the clippers leap frogged Houston today. Clippers are now only HALF A GAME from the 6th spot in the Western Conference. However, look for them to regress the rest of the month with the hardest stretch of games that any team in the league has to play. Clippers will be lucky to win 1-2 games out of the next ones (if kittles/wilcox dont come back). So, they might end januray a few games back, but as of now, clippers are right in the thick of things.

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08-09 Clippers - One more piece away from relativity