Mock Draft Monday: How good is Obi Toppin?

                                          (Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports) 

A guy I've been meaning to address sooner on here is Dayton sophomore forward Obi Toppin, who is averaging 19.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Toppin is projected to be a top three pick according to my guys at NBADraft.net and has the Flyers ranked #3 in the country. Admittedly, I haven't watched a ton of Toppin but from the film I've seen of him, he looks to be the real deal.

For starters, he has great physical tools. At 6'9", 220 pounds, he is light on his feet, runs the floor like a gazelle, and really excels in the pick and roll. He is perfect to catch lobs from point guards and throw it down a la Blake Griffin. He has good hands and has all the pieces to be a killer power forward in the NBA.

Secondly, Toppin is a pretty good 3-point shooter, shooting 41.6% from 3-point range during his two years at Dayton. He shot 52.4% his freshman year on .6 attempts per game and is shooting 38.8% this year on 2.8 attempts per game. It's natural for guys to see a dip in their percentage when they start to shoot more threes since they're not being as timid with their shot selection. Perhaps he could improve his shot selection a bit, but even so, his 38.8% shooting is pretty good in and of itself.

Finally, Toppin is comfortable being the man on a championship contending team. As it stands, the Flyers are projected to be a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and they'll go as far as Toppin can take them. So far, he has proven to be up to the challenge of being the main player on his team and accepting the pressures that come along with it. If he can lead Dayton to a national title, that will bode very well for his draft stock, potentially making him the top pick in the draft.

The bottom line is Obi Toppin has all the pieces to be a really good player in the NBA. He has the physical tools, he has the skill, and he has the intangibles. I look forward to seeing what he does in March and whether or not he can lead the Flyers to a national championship.

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Saturday Slam: Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are heading to the Los Angeles Clippers

                                          (Credit: Frank Gunn-The Associated Press) 

On Friday night, I wrote a blog post for Saturday all about why Kawhi Leonard should stay in Toronto, why he would be foolish to leave behind a situation where he is the toast of the city and hero to all of Canada and then boom! News broke that Leonard was joining the Los Angeles Clippers! Even more amazingly, news subsequently broke that Paul George will be joining him as a result of being traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, four unprotected first-round picks, one protected first-round pick, and two pick swaps. The Clippers have also waived Tyrone Wallace as a result. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN has the details below.

ESPN story on the Clippers bombshell acquisitions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George: https://t.co/CYnIGPhipn

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019

With Leonard and George, the Clippers have a legitimate one-two punch that has the chance to win a championship. Aside from the photo, the one vestigial remain of my original Saturday Slam post for this weekend is that the Clippers are a better choice for Leonard than the Lakers.

The first reason is because the Clippers were a better team last season. Unlike the Lakers, the Clippers actually made the playoffs, giving the Warriors a bit of a scare in the first round. The Clippers looked like a team that was going places and by adding Leonard and George, they're more than just going places. They're entering themselves into the championship discussion.

The second reason is that the Clippers will be Leonard's team. Had he joined the Lakers, Leonard would have been second fiddle to LeBron James. Or at least that would have been the perception. Instead, Leonard gets to be the the man on this new and improved Clippers team, giving him a chance to go after James and prove himself to be the superior player.

Third, there's less pressure on Leonard. The Clippers have never won a championship before and quite frankly have never come close. By going to the Clippers, Leonard is able to be somewhat in the shadows of the Lakers, something that he doesn't mind.

Fourth, as was said above, Leonard gets to play with Paul George, one of the best wings in the NBA. George should play well alongside Leonard, giving the Clippers a legit second option. Together, Leonard and George have the chance to do a lot of damage and take the Clippers to even higher heights than they achieved during the Chris Paul/Blake Griffin era.

I will later address what this all means for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors, but for now, I want to focus on the Clippers. For them this is huge. They're in the game now and a real threat to win the NBA championship. On top of that, they're set to form a really fun crosstown rivalry with the Lakers, something that is certain to boost ratings across the league. As exciting as this past NBA season was, I'm already eager to see what next season has in store.


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NBALord.com Central Division Preview

Up next in my division preview series is the Central Division, home to the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Milwaukee Bucks.

After years of rebuilding and putting the right pieces together, the Milwaukee Bucks finally appear to have a team capable of doing some serious damage. They're 8-2 at the moment and anything but a fluke. Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 26.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game on 53.6% shooting from the field, making him one of the most dangerous players in the NBA. In addition to "The Greek Freak", Khris Middleton is averaging 19.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game on 49.3% shooting from 3-point range while guards Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon give the Bucks some additional weapons in the back court.

What is perhaps most remarkable about the Bucks' 8-2 start is the fact that they're doing this without Jabari Parker, who signed a two-year, $40M contract with the Chicago Bulls last summer.  Parker was viewed as an integral part of their future and for them to be playing such stellar basketball with him no longer a part of their plans is a testament to how good "The Greek Freak" is and also how smart their front office is. Most teams would have had a hard time parting ways with a guy of Parker's caliber, but the Bucks' recognized they could succeed without him and appear to have no reason to second guess their decision.

With the Eastern Conference wide open, the Bucks have to be viewed as serious contenders to reach the NBA Finals. Gianni Antetokounmpo is arguably the best player in the NBA and he seems ready to lead his team deep in the playoffs. This is undoubtedly shaking up to be the most exciting season in Milwaukee in a very long time.

Led by Victor Oladipo, the Indiana Pacers have one of the more balanced and deep teams in the NBA. In addition to Oladipo, who is averaging 22.5 points per game, the Pacers have five players scoring in double figures per game (Thaddeus Young, Bojan Bogdanovic, Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis, and Tyreke Evans). This depth and balance allows them to compete with teams that have more talented players.

Where the Pacers really do damage is with their efficient shooting and ability to force turnovers. They are 4th in the NBA in field goal percentage (49.3%) and tied for 6th in steals (8.5 steals per game). They do a really good job of finding easy baskets for one another, making them tough to stop when they have the ball.

While the Pacers are not a team picked to reach the NBA Finals, they do have the pieces to win a series and make some noise in the playoffs. Especially if they are able to get home court advantage for the first round and stay healthy. Few teams have the depth and balance that they have, making them one of the more intriguing teams in the NBA.

The Detroit Pistons are led by Blake Griffin, who so far seems to be enjoying his time in the motor city. Griffin is averaging 28.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game this season while Andre Drummond is averaging 17.6 points and 15.4 rebounds. Together, Griffin and Drummond form a very formidable front court, making it hard for any team to get rebounds and find success in the paint.

The problem for the Pistons is their lack of depth. Reggie Jackson is a nice player as is Ish Smith, but after that it really starts to tail off. The Pistons need one more weapon in order to be really competitive. The hope for them has been that Stanley Johnson will be that additional weapon, but so far he doesn't appear to be up to the task.

With Griffin and Drummond at the helm, the Pistons should be in the mix to make a playoff appearance, but that's the extent to which I see them succeeding. Those guys simply need more help and right now they don't have it.

Zach LaVine is having a really nice season for the Chicago Bulls, averaging 26.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while Jabari Parker is averaging 14.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. The Bulls hope that with LaVine and Parker as their core for the future, they can start to move in the right direction.

While they do have some promising pieces like Justin Holiday and Wendell Carter, Jr. in addition to LaVine and Parker, this Bulls team is too young to make any noise this season. They have some growing pains to go through this season before they see the fruit of their labors.

For the Bulls, the main thing to see is if LaVine and Parker can both stay healthy. They've had injury issues in the past, casting doubt on their abilities to carry a franchise. If they are able to play the bulk of the games without incurring any serious injury, it should be a good season in the Windy City regardless of what the team's record is.

In the post-LeBron James era, the Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to struggle. They decided to fire Tyronn Lue early in the season and Kevin Love is out for an extended period of time due to a toe/foot problem. Such a combination is certain to yield a lot of losses. So long as Love is out, this team is going to struggle to find any sort of identity as he is the best player they have.

The main thing to look for this year in Cleveland is how well rookie point guard Collin Sexton performs and who else looks like a good piece to put around him. A combination of Kevin Love and Collin Sexton could be intriguing, but they aren't enough to make this team competitive. They need some pieces around them.

I personally see this as a year of cleaning house in Cleveland. Tyronn Lue won't be the last to go. They'll probably look to find trading partners for J.R. Smith and Tristan Thompson and hope to get some assets back that they can use to build for the future. Whether or not they'll find any takers remains to be seen, but they should at least try.

What's frustrating for the Cavaliers is they are cellar dwellers again, but at least they won a championship in the LeBron James era. They've overall had a good run, but now it's time for them to start from scratch and build a team that can once again compete.

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Wednesday Windmill: Are the Detroit Pistons now for real after landing Blake Griffin?

                                          (Ryan Garza. Detroit Free Press) 

On Tuesday, I provided analysis of the Blake Griffin trade from the perspective of the Los Angeles Clippers. Today I want to do the same thing from the perspective of the Detroit Pistons. For details on the trade itself, I went through that on Tuesday as well. Click here for that in case you missed it.

At the moment, the Pistons are 23-26 and 1.5 games back of the 8th seeded 76ers in the Eastern Conference standings. By adding Blake Griffin, who is averaging 22.6 points, 5.4 assists, and 7.9 rebounds, the Pistons have now put themselves in the drivers seat to take the 8th seed and possibly move up as high as 4th or 5th. However, this move is much more about the future as opposed to making a late playoff push. The Pistons made this move to compete for championships in the future.

I've always been a big fan of Blake Griffin and believed in his abilities. His combination of skill and charisma make him the perfect face for any NBA franchise. Especially a team with a lot of history like the Pistons. By having a franchise player, the Pistons finally have an identity and something to get them excited about for the future. Griffin won't hit unrestricted free agency until the summer of 2022, so they have some time to put the right pieces around him. What helps is that they already have a really good big man to pair with Griffin in Andre Drummond, who has been named as John Wall's replacement in the All-Star Game. Drummond is averaging 14.8 points and 15.3 rebounds per game, making him one of the most dominant inside presences in the NBA. Together, Griffin and Drummond should form one of the most dynamic frontcourts in the NBA.

What remains to be seen is what the ceiling is of this Pistons team. Can they compete for a championship in the coming years? Are they a real threat to challenge the Celtics? Provided they make more good moves, I don't see why not. As you know, I thought the Clippers could have built a really competitive team around Griffin in the coming seasons, so I have no reason to doubt that the Pistons can do the same. Especially since they are in a weaker conference.

While the Pistons still have more work to do to get where they want to get to, landing Blake Griffin is a huge first step for them. What's scary is that Griffin isn't done getting better. He keeps adding more tools to his kit every year, so he's definitely not over the hump. As a matter of fact, I'm not even sure if he's hit his ceiling yet. The Pistons struck gold with this trade and should become a major force in the Eastern Conference over the coming seasons. Goodbye Lob City, hello Motor City.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Trading Blake Griffin means the Los Angeles Clippers are rebuilding

                                                  (Credit: Keith Allison. Click here for source) 

On Monday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that the Los Angeles Clippers traded Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons. The full deal is as follows: The Clippers send Blake Griffin, Brice Johnson, and Willie Reed to the Pistons for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, a protected 2018 first-round pick, and a 2019 second-round pick.

The Clippers are trying to convince people that they are not rebuilding, but don't let them fool you. That's exactly what this trade means. When looking back on it, the Clippers' decision to trade Chris Paul to the Rockets was already an indicator that they were looking to rebuild, but their decision to part ways with Blake Griffin just confirms it. It also appears to only be a matter of time before they part ways with Lou Williams and DeAndre Jordan as well.

Given that Blake Griffin is 28 years old and won't hit unrestricted free agency until the summer of 2022, I'm surprised the Clippers made this move. I understand that they fell short of their goals of winning a title during the Chris Paul era, but Griffin is still young enough to build around for the next five years. I would have thought the Clippers would have instead decided to hang onto Griffin and build the whole team around him as opposed to shipping him off when he actually might have his best basketball ahead of him.

Advocates of the move will say that Blake Griffin is too injury prone and not a guy who you can build a championship team around. The former has some merit to it, but I'm not convinced either claim is true. I've always liked Griffin's game and he has shown the willingness to improve his game every season. Griffin is already one of the top players in the game and as I said earlier he's not done getting better. The Clippers could have chosen to make Griffin their franchise centerpiece and continue to build an exciting brand of basketball in Los Angeles. Instead, they've chosen to ship off their most exciting player with the hopes of building a championship contender through the draft and free agency.

If you are guaranteed to draft the second coming of Hakeem Olajuwon or something along those lines, then parting ways with Blake Griffin makes sense. But there's no guarantee the Clippers get such a piece via the draft or free agency. Tanking is always a risky proposition because it relies on getting the right pick via lottery, selecting the right player, and also the health of that player. When you have a known commodity like Blake Griffin that has panned out and is committed to getting better, you hang onto that player every time unless you know you have really good odds of getting something better in return. The Clippers don't seem likely to get a better piece, which is why I'm not feeling this move for them.

It feels like today's NBA has embraced this "championship or bust" mentality and while I certainly respect teams for wanting to go all out to win a title, you need to do that with a strategy that will actually pay off. Trading away your franchise player because he hasn't yet led you to a title isn't always the right move to make. Sometimes it's better to be patient and see what you can accomplish with that player as opposed to blowing the whole thing up and wishing upon a star.

Blake Griffin is one of the top players in the league and is not going to be an easy guy to replace. The fact that this move doesn't replace his production or guarantee that the Clippers will replace his production down the line is reason enough for me to dislike the move. I question whether or not this move will pay off for the Clippers in the way that they think it will.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Clippers and Rockets get chippy in Chris Paul's return to Los Angeles

                                         (Credit: Harry How/Getty Images) 

On Monday, things got a bit chippy between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers. It was Chris Paul's first road game against his former team and it appeared as though emotions were very high as a result. The Clippers won the game 113-102 and improved to 22-21 on the season, putting them at the 7th seed in the Western Conference. With the loss, the Rockets fall to 30-12, putting them now 4.5 games back of the top seeded Golden State Warriors.

Things getting chippy in an NBA game is nothing unusual. It happens all the time. What made this game a bit unusual is the way in which things got chippy. Typically, once the final buzzer sounds and both teams go to their respective locker rooms, the chippiness ends and both teams move on to the next game. In the case of this game, things allegedly spilled over into the locker room, with Rockets small forward Trevor Ariza trying to sneak into the Clippers locker room or something weird like that.

Sources: As details emerge on aftermath Rockets-Clippers game, Trevor Ariza remains described as most aggressive and determined to get into opposing locker room — with Chris Paul and James Harden viewed as trying to slow down Ariza. NBA investigation will continue into Wednesday.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 16, 2018

After the game, both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin tried to downplay what happened and for the most part were respectful towards each other. However, when it came to what happened in the locker room, neither guy admitted fault on his team. They both tried to skirt questions about the matter and not directly describe what happened.

#Rockets PG Chris Paul addresses his return to Los Angeles and their chippy game against the #Clippers... https://t.co/Eh9x2yUquu #NBA

— NBA Lord (@nba_lord) January 17, 2018

#Clippers PF Blake Griffin addresses the locker room incident that occurred against the #Rockets on Monday... https://t.co/02QOks3xiU #NBA

— NBA Lord (@nba_lord) January 17, 2018

Obviously, if you are the Houston Rockets, the biggest thing you need to worry about is what happens to Trevor Ariza. He's the guy that's been implicated in this bizarre story and if he did indeed do as is being reported, he could be looking at a multi-game suspension. Ariza is having a solid season for the Rockets, averaging 12.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game on 42.4% shooting from the field, 38.4% shooting from 3-point range, and 89.1% shooting from the foul line. Losing him for any stretch of time would hurt.

As far as additional commentary is concerned, the guys on Inside the NBA found the whole thing to be rather humorous. Especially the part about the police being outside the locker rooms. I guess they think today's NBA is much softer than the league they played in.

The guys on Inside The NBA weigh in on the locker room drama between the #Clippers and #Rockets on Monday. Clippers won 113-102 in Chris Paul’s return to Los Angeles... https://t.co/Csf3ny3MfE #NBA

— NBA Lord (@nba_lord) January 17, 2018

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Skyhook Sunday: Should the Los Angeles Clippers trade DeAndre Jordan?

During the last week or so, DeAndre Jordan's name has come up in trade rumors. According to Gery Woelfel, the Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Milwaukee Bucks are all interested in trading for the Los Angeles Clippers' star big man. Further, it sounds like the Clippers are exploring the option of unloading him in order to help them rebuild. 

The reason why the Clippers are considering this is the fact that they are having a down year (8-14) and don't appear to be close to contending with the present cast of players that they have. With Chris Paul gone, the line of thinking is why not blow the whole thing up and start from scratch with Blake Griffin as the centerpiece? 

While tanking and blowing up your franchise is a rather trendy thing for NBA teams to do, that doesn't make it the right move for every team. For the Clippers, given how recently they were contending, they might be better off tweaking their roster and keeping their foundation in place as opposed to essentially starting all over. 

At 29 years of age, DeAndre Jordan is still producing and has several good years left in him, averaging 10.1 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. As an added plus, he's having his best free throw shooting season ever (59.6%). Personally, I think that if the Clippers want to get back to where they were a couple of years ago, they'd be wise to hang on to Jordan as well as Griffin and make them their foundation for the next five years. Everyone else should be on the open market, but trading Jordan or Griffin would mark the end of an era and officially put them back into full blown rebuilding mode. 

If there's anyone who the Clippers should look to be getting rid of, it's Lou Williams, who at 31 years of age is averaging 18.7 points and 4.1 assists per game. Williams still has a lot of value and could command a lot in the trade market. If the Clippers used him as a means to getting some higher draft picks and some younger talent, that would be a fantastic move. 

I understand why the Clippers are exploring the trade market for DeAndre Jordan, but ultimately, I think it would be unwise for them to move him. He still has a lot to give them and alongside Blake Griffin, they could have one of the best front courts in the NBA for the next several years. The Clippers need to press forward with those two guys as their foundation and look for ways to put the right pieces around them in order for them to succeed. 

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Tomahawk Tuesday: What does the future hold for the Los Angeles Clippers?

Chris Paul ($24.4M) and Blake Griffin ($21.4M) have both decided to exercise the Early Termination Option on their contracts, which means that they will be unrestricted free agents come July 1st. For both Paul and Griffin, re-signing with the Clippers is the financially smart move to make. The Clippers can re-sign Paul for five years and approximately $200M while other teams can sign him for four years and $150M. As for Griffin, he can re-up with the Clippers for five years and approximately $180M while other teams can offer four years, $130M.

Still, even with the advantage of being able to offer more money, it's no guarantee Paul and Griffin stay with the Clippers. Both guys have made more than enough money and are at a point of their careers where winning a ring is the focus. Especially Paul, who has been in the NBA since 2005. In order for the Clippers to lock up Paul and Griffin for another five years, they'll have to do a good job selling them on their chances of winning championship in Clipperland. Otherwise, both guys might bolt for a change of scenery and better championship odds.

The advantage that both Paul and Griffin have is that they can literally go wherever they want. There has been talk of Chris Paul possibly joining the Spurs while Blake Griffin has been linked to the Celtics. Of course, these are all rumors at this point, but the fact remains that it is no slam dunk they re-sign. Something that should worry the Clippers.

There are four scenarios that can happen here. Each with its own pros and cons.

                                          (Credit: Keith Allison. Click here for source).     

Scenario #1-Both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin stay: It's entirely possible that both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin decide to re-sign and get back to work on winning a title for the Los Angeles Clippers. They've become the faces of Los Angeles and with a new owner in place, they can feel much more optimistic about the future. For the Clippers, this appears to be the best possible outcome. By keeping Paul and Griffin, they would remain competitive for the short term and continue to be the better team in Los Angeles. There's also the hope that with a few more moves, maybe they can finally get it right and add the pieces necessary to make a serious championship run.

Scenario #2-Chris Paul stays and Blake Griffin goes: There's also the possibility that the Clippers only hang on to one of their two major stars. If it's Paul who stays and Griffin who leaves, this wouldn't be terrible, but not all that great, either. Basically, it would keep the Clippers competitive for the short term, but not as competitive as they've been. They'd become a team that is a 6th or 7th seed in the Western Conference at best and possibly even an 8th seed. With Chris Paul getting older, the Clippers would already have to start thinking about ways to rebuild with Griffin no longer around as their centerpiece for the future.

Scenario #3-Blake Griffin stays and Chris Paul leaves: If the Clippers only hang on to one of these two guys, I think it's more likely that Griffin would be the one to stick around. Paul is in a more desperate situation considering his age, making the lure of going elsewhere stronger for him. With Paul gone, it would firmly become Griffin's team, which wouldn't be a bad thing. By being younger (Rookie class of 2010), Griffin is a better guy to build around for the future. He has five more years on him, creating more time for the Clippers to finally get it right and build a true title contender around him.

Scenario #4-Both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin leave: This is a nightmare scenario that the Clippers have to be prepared to address. The bottom line is that so far, the Chris Paul/Blake Griffin duo has not produced a championship. Doc Rivers hasn't gotten out of them what we all thought and at the end of the day, it just doesn't seem to be working. While they are making the playoffs every year as members of the Clippers, Paul and Griffin are guys who want to win championships and so far, they don't appear to be on track to do so in Los Angeles.

Now is the time for them to get out while they still can. Paul has four to five good years left in him while Griffin could remain an effective power forward for another 10 years. Both guys still have plenty of time to win rings elsewhere. As for what this would mean for the Clippers, this would be devastating. To lose your star duo right as you get new ownership would be nothing short of a major setback. DeAndre Jordan would suddenly be the man and they'd have to scramble to find some quality pieces in free agency to avoid a complete rebuilding season.

When looking at all four of these scenarios, it's clear that July 1st will be a big day for the Los Angeles Clippers. They have to be ready for whatever scenario presents itself and do all they can to not lose the positive momentum that they have been building during these past few years.

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Western Conference Playoffs Preview: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Utah Jazz

In the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, the #4 seeded Los Angeles Clippers (51-31) will take on the #5 seeded Utah Jazz (51-31). The Clippers won the regular season series 3-1. Game 1 will tip off on Saturday at 10:30 PM EST on ESPN.

Of all the first round playoff series', this one projects to be the closest. The records are identical, for one thing and both teams have dominant big men and guys who can score from the wing. This series really could go either way.

The matchup down in the paint should be particularly fun to watch. Clippers big man DeAndre Jordan (12.7 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks) and Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert (14.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks) are a throwback to a different era when there were more dominant big men. Watching them clash down low will be reminiscent of watching Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing face off in the paint. There are so few true big men making an impact in the NBA right now and to have two of them facing off in the same series is certain to be a real treat.

While it will be fun to watch Jordan and Gobert face off, I expect the two of them to cancel each other out. Neither one will sway this series in either direction. What will ultimately sway this series is coaching, the perimeter play, and which star player is able to deliver the goods in crunch time.

In regards to coaching, I think this is a fascinating matchup. Clippers head coach Doc Rivers has a ton of playoff experience while Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder is making his first trip to the playoffs. That said, I think Snyder has done a better job with his team and really has the Jazz playing good basketball. The Jazz are moving the ball well, they are getting each other involved, and are playing defense at an elite level.

 If the Jazz are going to win this series, Quin Snyder's stellar coaching will have to be a huge factor whereas for the Clippers, Doc Rivers needs to find a way to use his experience to his advantage. Doc Rivers knows how he'll handle close games in the playoffs because he's been there whereas for Quin Snyder he is yet to be in those kind of moments. It will certainly be interesting to see what decisions both coaches make down the stretch of close games. The decisions they make could ultimately decide this series.

In regards to perimeter play, the Clippers have Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, Jamal Crawford, and Austin Rivers while the Jazz have Gordon Hayward, George Hill, Rodney Hood, and Shelvin Mack. The battle in the backcourt will be crucial to this series. Both teams have guys who can shoot it from beyond the arc and penetrate the lane. Whichever group does a better job will give their team a definite edge.

In regards to the star play, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will be expected to deliver the goods for the Clippers while Gordon Hayward and George Hill will be expected to do the same for the Jazz. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have more playoff experience than Gordon Hayward (first appearance), but George Hill has some playoff experience going back to his days with the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers. While there is more pressure on Gordon Hayward to have a big series, George Hill can help take a lot of that pressure away through his stellar play in the backcourt and also his calming influence. He's been there before and can help Gordon Hayward make the transition.

In terms of a prediction for this series, I have the Utah Jazz finding a way to win the series in six games. Salt Lake City is one of the toughest place to play in the NBA and I don't see the Clippers getting a win on the road in this series. The combination of altitude and rowdy fans is what makes Salt Lake City such a tough place to win. As for the Staples Center, that place isn't as tough of a place to get a road playoff win, especially when it's the Clippers who are playing. I have a feeling that the Jazz will steal a game in Los Angeles and hold serve at home.

In order for my prediction to come to fruition, Gordon Hayward will need to have a big series. He's an NBA All-Star and is the face of this Jazz team. If he has a big series and gets the help he needs from the rest of his teammates, I really like their chances. If on the other hand, Hayward shrinks under the playoff spotlight, the Clippers will be the team that comes out on top in this series. The Clippers are a very good team and we certainly can expect Chris Paul and Blake Griffin to step up. Gordon Hayward will need to do the same in order for his team to win.




Note: This article also appears on my Utah Jazz blog. Click here to check it out.

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Saturday Slam: How will the Los Angeles Clippers weather the storm without Chris Paul?

Earlier this week, Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul suffered a torn left thumb ligament and will be out for an estimated 6-8 weeks following surgery. While Blake Griffin may be back soon from his knee surgery, the Clippers will have to figure out a way to stay afloat with both players out for at least the next week.

Even when Blake Griffin does come back, the Clippers will still be without Chris Paul for 5+ weeks and that alone will be a huge challenge. Raymond Felton, Jamal Crawford, and Austin Rivers will be expected to run the offense until Paul returns and do all they can to make up for Chris Paul's 17.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 9.7 assists per game.

The Clippers can't seem to catch a break when it comes to injuries. It feels like during the past couple of seasons, they're always dealing with at least one of their key players on the shelf for several weeks, which makes it really hard to develop continuity and team chemistry. While I do not personally believe the Clippers at full strength have enough pieces to win a championship, all of these injuries really do take its toll and make things a lot tougher.

As far as where they are in the standings, the Clippers are currently tied with the Utah Jazz for 4th place in the Western Conference with a 29-16 record. With home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs on the line, these next several weeks without Chris Paul are crucial. If there is anything that should give the Clippers some hope, it's the fact that Blake Griffin should be back within the next 7-10 days. If he is able to get back sooner rather than later that will be huge.

When it comes to weathering this storm, the Los Angeles Clippers need to play smart, disciplined basketball and really play as team. They still have a lot of nice players in Jamal Crawford, Austin Rivers, J.J. Redick, and DeAndre Jordan, so it's not like they don't have anybody to go to during this stretch. All four of those guys will need to step up their game and do a good job getting each other going until Blake Griffin and Chris Paul return. The Clippers will need to have a win by committee approach and so it will be vital for all of their healthy bodies to do their part to step up and make plays.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: With Blake Griffin out, the Los Angeles Clippers need DeAndre Jordan to step up

                                          (Credit: Keith Allison. Click here for source) 

After the Los Angeles Clippers' 117-110 loss to the Washington Wizards on December 18, it was revealed that Blake Griffin would be out 4-6 weeks following a procedure on his right knee. Griffin is having another all-star worthy season averaging 21.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. Without his presence, it's little surprise that the Clippers are struggling, but after three straight losses at the Staples Center to the Mavericks, Lakers, and Nuggets, it appears as though the absence of Blake Griffin may be an even bigger deal than initially expected.

With Blake Griffin out, the Clippers will obviously need to rely more on their veteran all-star point guard Chris Paul as well as J.J. Redick, Jamal Crawford, and DeAndre Jordan. All four of those guys will have to step up their game and have expanded roles until Blake Griffin returns. If there's any of those four guys who needs to step up the most, it's definitely DeAndre Jordan. Not only does he play in the front court, but he also is getting paid $87,616,050 over four years. DeAndre Jordan is viewed as the third guy in the Clippers' "Big Three" and so it's time he plays like it.

                                                 (Credit: Keith Allison. Click here for source) 

DeAndre Jordan is having a nice season, averaging 11.5 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. With Blake Griffin out, he should see an increase in both his points and rebounds. Unfortunately for the Clippers, DeAndre Jordan hasn't exactly stepped up his game thus far in Griffin's absence. During this three-game losing skid, DeAndre Jordan is averaging 8.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 1 block per game.

Those aren't bad numbers if Blake Griffin is at full strength, but without Griffin, those numbers should be better. The bottom line is that without Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan has to be stepping up and earning his money. A big reason for why the Clippers are paying DeAndre Jordan so much money is to take some pressure off of Blake Griffin since he's had a history of getting hurt.

As I said earlier, DeAndre Jordan is supposed to be the third guy in a Clippers "Big Three" and so far he's not playing like it. This isn't to say that the other guys on the Clippers don't need to do their part as well. They do, but outside of Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan needs to be the guy who steps up in Blake Griffin's absence. Especially since he also plays down in the paint.

As far as what the Clippers' schedule looks like, they embark on a three game road trip to New Orleans, Houston, and Oklahoma City before coming home to take on the Phoenix Suns on Monday, January 2nd. If DeAndre Jordan and the Clippers don't wake up, they could come into Monday's game on a six-game losing skid and they don't want that.

At 22-11, the Clippers are currently the #4 seed in the Western Conference behind the Rockets, Spurs, and Warriors. With the Thunder on their heels just 1.5 games back of them, the Clippers better get out of this funk fast before they jeopardize home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Even though the NBA playoffs aren't for quite a while, seasons can be decided by bad stretches of play. The Clippers better snap out of this bad stretch fast before things start to really get out of control.

Tomahawk Tuesday: Should we take the Los Angeles Clippers seriously this season?

     The Los Angeles Clippers currently possess the top record in the NBA with a 10-1 record, having won 7 straight games. The Clippers are known to flame out early in the playoffs and not deliver the goods, so should we really be paying that much attention to this? I think the answer to this question is we should definitely be taking note, but it's obviously still way too early for Clippers fans to start thinking this is the year they're going to break through and win their first NBA championship.

     What is encouraging about the Clippers' hot start is that they have beaten some quality teams on the road like the Grizzlies, Spurs, and Thunder. In addition, Chris Paul (19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 8.5 assists), Blake Griffin (20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists), DeAndre Jordan (10.5 points and 12.4 rebounds), J.J. Redick (13.3 points on 43.5% from 3-point range), and Jamal Crawford (11.2 points) are all healthy and playing well as a unit. A big problem for the Clippers over the years has been their inability to stay healthy. Usually Chris Paul injures his hamstring and can't go in the playoffs or something very similar derails their quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. In addition, the Clippers have not been able to lock up home court advantage for the Western Conference playoffs, making things all the more tougher to win a title.

     So, as far as how seriously we should take the Clippers, I would say we should take them seriously so far as they (A) Remain healthy and (B) Stay atop the Western Conference standings. If the Clippers can find a way to enter the 2017 NBA Playoffs with the #1 record in the Western Conference at full strength. Look out. They could be very tough to eliminate.

Saturday Slam: Is a Donald Trump presidency good for the Toronto Raptors?

On Tuesday, Donald Trump shocked the world by winning the electoral vote for president of the United States. Unless the electoral college goes rogue and votes for Hillary Clinton (which they should), Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States come January 20, 2017. First of all, let me say that you can count me in among the millions of Americans that are utterly horrified at the idea of Trump presidency. In case you missed it, I compared  Donald Trump to Donald Sterling, the former Los Angeles Clippers owner a few months ago. I said that if Donald Trump's racism disqualifies him from owning an NBA team, it should disqualify him from being President of the United States. I stand by those remarks and I always will.

As for what a Donald Trump presidency means for the NBA, I think it is entirely possible that having Trump in the White House will create a sudden interest in NBA free agents wanting to play for the Toronto Raptors, the lone NBA team that will be able to escape the wrath of a Trump administration. With all this talk of people wanting to move to Canada, why is it crazy to think that there will be some NBA players who want to get out of the United States until a new president takes over? The Toronto Raptors could be on the verge of a major free agency coup all courtesy of Donald Trump taking over as President of the United States.

While Toronto is a beautiful city in a beautiful country, their status as Canada's lone NBA team hasn't exactly been a plus when it comes to recruiting free agents. But, with Donald Trump taking over the helm, suddenly, their lone Canadian NBA status makes them a team that can provide NBA players with a path to join the mass American exodus into Canada that is sure to happen.

The only question is whether or not the very best players in the NBA will want to escape to Canada. If not, the Toronto Raptors may only see a slight improvement in the quality of free agents that they make, but should some really high profile players like Blake Griffin decide they want out of the United States and see Toronto as their only option, the Raptors could quickly build a championship contending team for seasons to come.

While the concept of a Trump presidency leading to a Toronto Raptors NBA championship sounds absurd, let me ask you this: If you are an NBA player who dislikes Donald Trump, wouldn't you give the Toronto Raptors a more serious look? Wouldn't that team look a lot more appealing to you than they did before? I think upon serious reflection, the answer is absolutely you would.

So, with that being the case, I think it's totally reasonable to expect big things from the Toronto Raptors during the Donald Trump administration. The very best players in the NBA are likely to seriously consider Toronto as a possible destination for them in free agency as a means of escaping Donald Trump. It's really not as crazy of a notion as you would think.

So, with this all being true, I really think a Donald Trump presidency is wonderful for the Toronto Raptors. They've been looking for a free agency recruiting advantage for quite some time and now they finally have it: They don't play in a country that is ran by Donald Trump. It's a simple advantage, but one that could pay major dividends for them in the coming seasons.

Daily Dunks: 7/20-7/26

                                                   (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source)

     Here is my Daily Dunks page for July 20, 2015 through July 26, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with news from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Celtics have signed second round pick forward Jordan Mickey (Click here for details).

#2. The Ty Lawson trade to the Rockets became official (Click here for details).

#3. The Nuggets waived guard  Pablo Prigioni, whom they acquired from the Rockets in the Ty Lawson deal (Click here for details).

#4. The Pistons signed second round pick guard  Darrun Hilliard (Click here for details).

#5. The Spurs officially re-signed guard Manu Ginobili (Click here for details).

#6. The Pistons officially signed Reggie Jackson to his extension (Click here for details).

#7. The Pistons officially re-signed center Joel Anthony (Click here for details).

#8. The Pelicans officially re-signed forward Luke Babbitt (Click here for details).

#9. The Nets made a bunch of promotions in their basketball operations department (Click here for details).

#10. Shaquille O'Neal and Scottie Pippen got into a fight on Instagram (Click here for details).

#11.  Forward John Jenkins signed a three-year deal with the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#12. Forward Quincy Acy re-signed with the Kings on a two-year deal that includes a player option (Click here for details).

#13. Ty Lawson's contract with the Rockets has been restructured such that the final year of his contract is unguaranteed (Click here for details).

#14. Monta Ellis has finally signed with the Pacers (Click here for details).

#15. 76ers center Joel Embiid re-broke the navicular bone in his right foot (Click here for details).

#16. Undrafted rookie forward Duje Dukan from Wisconsin has agreed to a deal with the Kings (Click here for details).

#17. Free agent center Jarrid Famous has agreed to a one-year partially guaranteed deal with the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#18. Guard Keith Appling has agreed to a two-year partially guaranteed deal with the Magic (Click here for details).

#19. Undrafted Louisiana Tech forward Michael Kyser signed a one-year, partially guaranteed deal with the Raptors (Click here for details).

Monday's NBA Summer League scores: 

Spurs 93 Suns 90. Spurs win the Las Vegas Summer League title with former WNBA player Becky Hammon as their coach (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Danilo Gallinari and the Nuggets agreed on a two-year, $34M extension (Click here for details).

#2. Richard Jefferson is signing with the Cavaliers (Click here for details).

#3. The Pacers officially re-signed Rodney Stuckey (Click here for details).

#4. The Pelicans have agreed to a one-year deal with Kendrick Perkins for the veteran's minimum (Click here for details).

#5. Rockets shooting guard James Harden won the MVP at the Player's Awards (Click here for details).

#6. After 17 years in the NBA, Nazr Mohammad is thinking about retirement (Click here for details).

#7. Clippers forward Blake Griffin has come to DeAndre Jordan's defense (Click here for details).

#8. The Pacers are going to wear Hickory High uniforms to commemorate the movie Hoosiers (Click here for details).

#9. Adrian Wojarowski has signed a four-year deal to stay with Yahoo! (Click here for details).

#10. The Magic and Raptors will face each other in London in 2016 on January 14 (Click here for details).

Tuesday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Mystics 76 Shock 69. Stars 80 Fever 62.Sky 97 Dream 92. Liberty 81 Storm 77. Sparks 70 Mercury 65.

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. After being waived by the Nuggets, point guard Pablo Prigioni signed a one-year deal with the Clippers (Click here for details).

#2. The Kings signed Seth Curry to a two-year deal (Click here for details).

#3. The Pistons have signed Stanley Johnson to his rookie contract (Click here for details).

#4. Stephen Jackson (Yes, that Stephen Jackson) has retired (Click here for details).

#5. LeBron James' company has signed with Warner Bros. Space Jam 2 is a possibility (Click here for details).

#6. Adam Silver is thinking about not giving division winning teams a guaranteed playoff spot (Click here for details).

#7. Wizards forward Jared Dudley is out 3-4 months after undergoing back surgery (Click here for details).

#8. Bill Simmons is joining HBO (Click here for details).

#9. Former Alabama swingman Levi Randolph will join the Celtics for training camp (Click here for details).

#10. The Spurs signed point guard Jimmer Fredette and shooting guard Jonathon Simmons to training camp deals (Click here for details).

Wednesday's WNBA Final scores: 

Sun 78 Lynx 77. Liberty 59 Sparks 53. Liberty forward Tina Charles had 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Kings officially signed Caron Butler (Click here for details).

#2. The Mavericks signed forward Maurice Ndour to a training camp deal (Click here for details).

#3.The Pistons signed forward Adonis Thomas (Click here for details).

#4. The Cavaliers traded forward Rakeem Christmas to the Pacers (Click here for details).

#5. Rakeem Christmas' deal with the Pacers is a 4 year, $4.5M deal with the first two years guaranteed (Click here for details).

#6. James Jones re-signed with the Cavaliers on a one-year deal worth the veteran's minimum (Click here for details).

#7. Chris Copeland signed a one-year contract with the Bucks (Click here for details).

#8. The Hawks signed Lamar Patterson and Terran Petteway to training camp deals (Click here for details).

#9. The Warriors pulled center Ognjen Kuzmic's qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent (Click here for details).

#10. The Jazz plan to make changes to their logo (Click here for details).

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. A lawsuit trying to prevent the Sacramento Kings' arena from being built has been rejected (Click here for details).

#2. The Trail Blazers signed guard Phil Pressey and forward Cliff Alexander (Click here for details).

#3. Carmelo Anthony reportedly may join the Team USA mini-camp in August (Click here for details).

#4. The Wizards are unlikely to trade Nene before the season starts (Click here for details).

#5. Harrison Barnes says he hopes to stay with the Warriors long-term (Click here for details).

#6. Bucks forward Chris Copeland says he is ok after his stabbing (Click here for details).

#7. Phil Jackson has some criticisms for NBA players from Duke (Click here for details).

#8. Nick Young expects to not be traded from the Lakers. At least for a while (Click here for details).

#9. Wesley Saunders, an undrafted guard out of Harvard, has agreed to a partially guaranteed deal with the Knicks (Click here for details).

#10. The mayor of Atlanta is willing to contribute public money for the new Hawks arena (Click here for details).

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Kings have offered Peja Stojakovic a full-time front office position (Click here for details).

#2. Samuel Dalembert has a signed a one-year deal with the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#3. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving's health is improving (Click here for details).

#4. 76ers rookie center Jahlil Okafor sees himself as a cornerstone of the franchise and is ready to dominate (Click here for details).

#5. Becky Hammon is gaining some traction as a head coaching candidate (Click here for details).

#6. Glenn Robinson III has agreed to a three-year deal with the Pacers (Click here for details).

#7. Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis turned down an invite to join "Dancing With The Stars" (Click here for details).

#8. Former Arizona forward Brandon Ashley has signed a partially guaranteed multi-year deal with the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#9. The Knicks signed power forward Darion Atkins to a partially guaranteed deal (Click here for details).

#10. Kings VP of basketball operations Vlade Divac dislikes analytics and has ceased contact with Dean Oliver, a guy in the organization who loves analytics (Click here for details).

Saturday's WNBA All-Star results: 

West 117 East 112: Final. Lynx forward Maya Moore won MVP with 30 points.

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Heat traded point guard Shabazz Napier to the Magic for a future protected second round pick (Click here for details).

#2. The Cavaliers traded Mike Miller and Brenden Haywood to the Trail Blazers for cap space and trade exceptions (Click here for details).

#3. The Kings fired analytics guru Dean Oliver (Click here for details).

#4. Damian Lillard says he will likely not participate in the Team USA minicamp (Click here for details).

#5. Blake Griffin and Stephen Curry will participate in the Team USA minicamp (Click here for details).

#6. Dwyane Wade is launching his own brand of wine in China (Click here for details).

#7. Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts says he has no hard feelings towards LaMarcus Aldridge (Click here for details).

#8. The Spurs signed center Yassou Ndoye to a non-guaranteed training camp deal (Click here for details).

#9. The Mavericks signed forward Jamil Wilson to a partially guaranteed contract (Click here for details).

#10. The Celtics signed guard Corey Walden to a non-guaranteed training camp deal (Click here for details).


---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord and like my Facebook page NBA Lord Nation for NBA news 

Western Conference Playoffs Preview: Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Clippers

#2. Houston Rockets (56-26) vs. #3. Los Angeles Clippers (56-26): 

     The Houston Rockets come into this series having taken out the Dallas Mavericks in five games. As for the Los Angeles Clippers, they come into this series having taken out the San Antonio Spurs in seven games. The Rockets definitely have the advantage of being well rested in addition to playing at home, so it will be especially huge for the Rockets to win Game 1 tonight and get a jump on the Clippers who are still recovering from one of the most epic series' we've ever seen.

     Both of these teams are similar in that they heavily rely on two superstars to give them the bulk of their production. The Rockets have shooting guard James Harden and center Dwight Howard as their two superstars and the Clippers have point guard Chris Paul and power forward Blake Griffin. If you notice, both teams have one superstar on the wing and the other playing in the post, which means that we should see a lot of fun battles both on the perimeter and in the paint.

     In addition to these four players, there are other players to take note of in this series. For the Clippers, there is their monstrous center DeAndre Jordan and sharp shooters J.J. Redick, Matt Barnes, and Jamal Crawford on the wing. As for the Rockets, they have swingman Josh Smith, swingman Corey Brewer, and shooting guard Jason Terry.

     While I would say that the Rockets have the better superstar combo, the Clippers have the better supporting cast. DeAndre Jordan is one of the best rebounders and shot blockers we have ever seen and he is very capable of scoring the ball in transition via the alley-oop. As for Redick, Barnes, and Crawford, all three of those guys are fantastic three-point shooters who can help stretch the floor and take the pressure off Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. This was certainly seen in Game 7 against the Spurs.

     If the Clippers are going to win this series, they will need Blake Griffin and Chris Paul to play big and their role players to do their job. If Redick, Crawford, and Barnes are hitting threes like they are supposed to and if Jordan is getting a ton of rebounds and blocks, the Clippers are going to be really tough to stop.

     As for the Rockets, it's essentially the same thing in that they need James Harden and Dwight Howard to lead the way and the role players to do their jobs as well. The difference is that James Harden and Dwight Howard have to do more than Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Especially James Harden, who has been averaging 28.4 points per game in this post season. Harden has to play big every night and get his 30 points in order for the Rockets to win. If he doesn't, the Rockets are in serious trouble.

     At the end of the day, I'm picking the Clippers to win this series in 6 games. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin were fantastic against the Spurs, their role players were incredible, and Doc Rivers is one of the best coaches in the game. Everyone on this team knows what their job is and has proven capable of delivering the goods. This isn't to say that the Rockets can't step up as well, but at the moment, we know for certain that the Clippers can step up in the clutch and that is enough of a reason to pick them over a team that is yet to prove capable of doing so.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news