Vegas Over/Under: 43.5
The Record Projection: 42-40 of fromal The Bet: lean although Prevent under
How you feel about this over/under likely depends on one crucial question: How easy is replacement Chris Paul?
The Los Angeles Clippers did a great job reloading after studying that Paul wanted a death to the Houston Rockets. Not only did they figure out how to pry some funds away from his new home in a trade after he opted in, however they also convinced Blake Griffin to re-sign before adding Danilo Gallinari and Milos Teodosic into the fold.
This is a gifted roster with upside and ability at pretty much every position. It is far deeper than it has been in past years, though head coach Doc Rivers surely didn’t want to acquire depth at the cost of his team’s best player.
And that is the enduring issue.
Paul was not just the engine which made the Clippers operate; he essentially was the Clippers.
Patrick Beverley and Teodosic should be strong replacements in the 1, but they can not replicate his ability to run the offense perfectly.
Whether Paul was calling his own number or setting up teammates, he commanded the flow of the game as well as anyone. It’s why LAC was a shocking 19.6 points per 100 possessions better with him around the floor in 2016-17, in addition to the reason he finished No. 2 overall in ESPN.com’s real plus/minus, behind only LeBron James.
His work simply can not be replicated.
Read more: oracledailyvoice.com
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