The Clippers are probably the most unpredictable team this season, as it won't be a surprise if they reach the Playoffs due to their roster changes this offseason, but it won't be a surprise neither if they fail to reach the postseason, as the chemistry (or the lack of) between the players and the coach will be their biggest problem for this season.

In 2005, the Clippers had everything to be a very competitive team in the West for the following seasons. They reached the Playoffs in 2005, eliminated Denver and took Phoenix to a Game 7 in the conference semi-finals. However, the team failed to reach the level they were expected to reach, as in a little bit more than 2 years, the Clippers saw their franchise player Elton Brand have a very serious injury and then leaving to Philadelphia. Besides Elton Brand, also Corey Maggete left the team to the Warriors and let's remember this was the duo which in 2005/2006 was responsabile for 42.5 ppg for the Clippers! However, the team used very well their free salary cap and the players who will replace them give guarantees that at first sight, the Clippers will once again become a competitive team.

Baron Davis was the best hiring of the team this offseason and last season, for the first time in 6 seasons, he played the whole 82 games of the regular season, which is great news, since Baron is known for being injury-prone. He averaged 21.8 ppg, 7.6 apg, 4.7 rpg and 2.3 stl, which are easily All Star numbers. Davis will be the general of the Clippers this season and he will be an amazing offensive weapon on a team which was second last last season in scoring (93.8 ppg) and last in FG% with just 43.8%.

The other big addition was Marcus Camby from Denver, in an amazing deal for the team from LA. Camby together with Kaman will make the Clippers the most powerful defense on the paint of the league. These two players averaged a combined of 6.38 blocks per game last season and just two teams had more blocks than these two together last season! The presence of these two big man will relax the players from the perimeter a lot, since the possibility of the Clippers getting the rebounds will be very high, as Kaman is coming from a season where he averaged 12.7 rpg and Camby 13.1 rpg. However, one of the potential problems of the Clippers this season will be the fact that these two players are especially defensive specialists, even though Kaman has improved offensively a lot last season and averaged 15.7 ppg. The truth is that it will essential for the Clippers to have at least one offensive threat in the paint or the team will end up being unidimensional on the offense.

The team has also young players with a lot of potential like Al Thornton, who had a good rookie season, with even getting selected to the All-Rookie team. He averaged 12.7 ppg and 4.5 rpg, however when Dunleavy gave the chance to Thornton to be a starter, he took advantage of that and his numbers raised to 15.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 1.9 apg. He has all the conditions to have a good sophomore season, as he will have a lot of protection in the frontcourt and his ability to drive into the basket can be useful for the team.

The Clippers chose in the draft the SG Eric Gordon and if he can adapt pretty quickly to the NBA will be a big threat in the exterior game and he will fit well in the scheme Mike Dunleavy will implement on the team. Even though he averaged 20.9 ppg for the Indiana Hoosiers last season, the truth is that he struggled on the last months of the season and with him being so young, his confidence may have been shaken up, but with so many veteran players around him, certainly Gordon will be helped into develop into a good player in the NBA.

In order to make the roster deeper, the Clippers have a group of veteran players, who would be useful to any team on the league and make the Clippers be one of the teams with most options in any position. Cuttino Mobley, Tim Thomas, Ricky Davis or Brian Skinner will give quality minutes to the team and Dunleavy will have a bench full of alternatives and which can turn around a game (in this category, please forget about Brian Skinner).

I wouldn't be surprised if the Clippers reach the Playoffs this season, as they have everything a team can wish: a PG who is a leader, a very powerful frontcourt, a very experienced coach and a lot of veterans ready to help the team. However, the lack of chemistry the team may have will be the biggest obstacle for them this season, but the Clippers can't complain about the schedule, as they will play 8 of their first 10 games at home and they will help the team.

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