2016 NBA Predictions: A look at each team in the league

Oct 18, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) talk during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) talk during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Clippers

Oct 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) drives the ball defended by Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) during the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) drives the ball defended by Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) during the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

Is this the year that the Clippers finally live up to their expectations and get into the third round or possibly the NBA Finals?

Sure seems like the time would be right.

Chris Paul and company have had a handful of rough playoff exits in the past couple of seasons, but that’s game to change.

What will be different about their approach in this campaign is that they’ll do it from outside of the top five seeding in their conference.

They’ll get in as the sixth seed.

The Western Conference is going to be much more cluttered thanks to new teams jumping into the picture, and Los Angeles could easily fall outside of the top five.

A major reason that this position shift will help the Clippers is that it’ll lower the expectations placed on the team going into the postseason.

If Blake Griffin and others can stay healthy around Chris Paul, there’s no telling what this team is capable of given who their head coach is and the kind of chip they’ll be playing with on their shoulder.