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**qross1fan** · 09-08-2005, 12:04 AM

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2004-05 Recap: Cue the broken record because it was yet another winter of discontent for the lowly Los Angeles Clippers. Top scorer Corey Maggette entered the season on the verge of making the All-Star team, but finished on the shelf with a wrist injury. Maggette raised his scoring average from 20.7 to 22.2, which was cool, but he missed 16 games due to multiple injuries, which wasn't so cool. Maggette wasn't the only Clipper to deal with injury, as you might have guessed, because point guards Marko Jaric and Shaun Livingston missed a combined 84 games. This was supposed to be Jaric's breakout season, but he missed a career-high 32 games and failed to average 10 points in over 33 minutes a night. Livingston was called the most talented player in the draft by some, but he missed 52 games and shot just 41 percent. Second-year center Chris Kaman also missed 19 games, which led to limited minutes and averages below 10 points and seven rebounds. Conversely, Elton Brand turned in 81 games after dealing with 33 DNPs in the two years prior. E.B. once again turned in a tremendous fantasy season, averaging 20 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and 50 percent from the field. Another highlight was Bobby Simmons winning the Most Improved Player award thanks to 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 steals. Simmons was a leading candidate for Sleeper of the Year because his versatility made the difference for a lot of fantasy teams. But the coolest thing the Clippers did all season was finishing three games ahead of the Lakers with a record of 37-45. Congrats to the People's Team for winning the Battle for Los Angeles.Offseason Overview: The Clippers' biggest offseason move was signing Cuttino Mobley to a five-year contract worth $42 million. Cat split last season between the Kings and Magic, and still averaged 17.2 points per game. The Clippers basically picked Mobley over Simmons, who signed for five years and $47 million with the Bucks. Mobley is an upgrade in terms of raw scoring, but he's a downgrade in unselfishness and defense. Later in the summer the Clippers traded Marko Jaric and Lionel Chalmers to the Timberwolves for Sam Cassell and a lottery-protected first-round pick. This was basically a sign-and-trade because Jaric was restricted but unlikely to re-sign, so hats off to the Clippers' front office for getting a former All-Star and potential No. 1 pick in return. As always, the Clippers had a lottery pick, but this one was not of the top-three variety. With the 12th pick, the Clips tabbed Russian forward Yaroslav Korolev, a skilled 18-year-old who is currently debating whether to play in the NBA or remain in Europe.

2005-06 Outlook: You gotta like the Clippers' starting five of Kaman, Brand, Maggette, Mobley, and Cassell. I don't see that lineup getting many stops, but they'll be dropping shot after shot. The trouble with the 05-06 Clippers is their lack of depth, as Livingston, Chris Wilcox, and Zeljko Rebraca comprise one of the more suspect benches in the NBA. You must have a bench to be taken seriously in the West. As such, the Clippers feel like a .500 team that flirts with and ultimately falls short of the postseason--again.

Rotation Analysis: The writing up till now has been based on the assumption that Cassell beats out Livingston for the starting job. It promises to be one of the top training camp battles in all of basketball, as Cassell is a proud veteran who already has staked his claim to the job and Livingston is the super-skilled point guard of the future. But the point may be moot (and the pun intended), as both figure to split time and effectively cancel each other out in fantasy leagues. The two, three, and four are owned by Mobley, Maggette, and Brand, respectively, and all three will average 37+ minutes per game. Kaman averaged 25.9 minutes in 50 starts last season, but he was frequently vultured by Rebraca, Wilcox, and Mikki Moore. Mikki is gone, which helps, but it's tough to see Mike Dunleavy, Sr. giving Kaman more than 30 minutes a night.

Player(s) to watch: I'll be watching recent lottery picks Kaman and Livingston, who were taken sixth and fourth, respectively, in the '03 and '04 drafts. It's time for Kaman to stay healthy and consistent so he can make it impossible for Dunleavy to sub him out, and it's time for Livingston to stay healthy and get into the business of dropping jaws. Despite the rotation issues facing Kaman and Livingston, I believe in their ability and character, and consider them fantasy sleepers.

Player(s) to fear: It brings me great sorrow to admit to the fantasy world that I fear two of my faves: Brand and Maggette. These former-Dukees have been by my side for years because they're super players and because they've been the one-two punch on a team seriously lacking in talent. Unfortunately for Brand and Maggette--and their keeper owners--everything changed when the Clippers acquired Mobley and Cassell, who love shooting almost as much as they love making money. Just ask them. And just ask Brand and Maggette, who will be frustrated with the reduced amount of looks by mid-November. I could see Brand and Maggette each dropping by 2-4 points per game, and it wouldn't shock me to see all four average 15 ppg.

The Stat: Simmons went from journeyman to one of the league's most accurate shooters seemingly overnight. With a field-goal percentage of .465, a free-throw percentage of .843, and a three-point percentage of .439, Simmons ranked 19th based on those stats. And if you throw out two non-rotation players (Donnell Harvey and Wesley Person), Simmons was the 17th best all-around shooter last year. Who knew?

Bold Prediction: Despite having four players capable of 20 points every time they step on the floor, the Clippers' leading scorer in 2005-06 will not average 20 points per game. Mobley and Cassell will crowd Maggette on the perimeter more than they'll infringe on Brand in the paint (where the team has to generate offense), so I see Brand leading the team with 18-19 points per game. Maggette will be close second at 18 ppg, with Mobley between 15-17 ppg, and Cassell between 12-14 ppg.

http://www.fanball.com/ph/article.cfm/ID.4501

+CrossOver+ · 09-08-2005, 06:06 AM

[Rotation Analysis: The writing up till now has been based on the assumption that Cassell beats out Livingston for the starting job. It promises to be one of the top training camp battles in all of basketball,[/url][/quote]

Believe that ... Clipper scrimmages should be interesting ... Cassell can't score on Shaun. Forget about shooting over him, hard to drive around a younger player with a 7 foot wing span.

Somebody better be setting some screens for Sam or Liv will shut him down.

Dynasty Raider · 09-08-2005, 09:11 AM

So ... there's no respect for our bench?

We'll have to show them.

**Weasel** · 09-08-2005, 11:00 AM

I am not 100% sold that Mobley and Cassell will bring down Maggette and Brand. It seems like though everyone is making that assumption. Not so worried about our bench since in guard position it will be a 3 man rotation between Livingston, Cassell, and Mobley. A backup forward is needed but Dunleavy last year showed that he can bring in decent talent to help on the bench.

Starbury03 · 09-08-2005, 06:04 PM

These guy through out ant credibeltiy he had by saving how the Clippers bench is one of the worst in the league. Rebracca,Wilcox,Livingston,Ross. That is the very least a decent bench. Dunleavy will probably have a main 9 man rotation. Also I dont agree with the team being bad at defsense because it is gonna be drilled into them the importance of it by Dunleavy. Also with to good shot blockers with Kaman and Brand that will allow for erasing some of the mistakes of the guards on D. This team is also bulilt arounf Maggette and Brand with Livingston coming up. Cassell and Mobley are being brought in to fit with those guys not to be the stars of the team Mobley should atleast know that because he signed with the team.

**Weasel** · 09-09-2005, 10:51 AM

Here is another one from hoopshype:
http://hoopshype.com/previews/la_clippers.htm

Starbury03 · 09-09-2005, 02:02 PM

I guess the Clippers didnt play like a team last year. huh? Again the Clippers will be using a 3 man rotation with Cassell,Livingston and Mobley they dont need alot after that unless injuries happen. Also Q Ross is a decent player an no one is getting him his credit as a decent bench player.

Mecca · 09-09-2005, 02:14 PM

With all the reviews I had seenn, I predict that the Clippers will be 2nd in the Pacific divison & make the playoffs, guarnteed.

**Weasel** · 09-09-2005, 04:05 PM

Here is a pretty good article:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_14136.shtml

Talks about Cassell/Mobley vs. Jaric/Simmons, a interesting perspective on ratings and plus/minus systems.

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