Clippers: Three bold expectations for the 2017-18 season

The Los Angeles Clippers are entering their first season without Chris Paul since 2010-11. Despite the loss, the Clippers could turn some heads next season.

On paper, it does not look good for the Los Angeles Clippers with Chris Paul now being a member of the Houston Rockets. Los Angeles has made the playoffs 13 times in the 47 seasons they have played. This amounts to the team making the postseason 27.7% percent of the time. However, six of those 13 appearances have come with Paul.

Without Paul, the Clippers have only made the postseason 17% of the time. Three more of those berths came when the team was the Buffalo Braves. In the 27 seasons the Clippers were in LA before Paul’s arrival, the team made the postseason just three times; good enough for 11.1%.

However, with Paul off to Houston, the Clippers are not in as bad of shape as it may seem. The team still has Blake Griffin to lead the way with one of the best centers in the game in DeAndre Jordan. Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Danilo Gallinari, Milos Teodosic and Austin Rivers all make for great role players as well.

While Los Angeles did lose a superstar, they did bring in multiple guys to fill the void. The point guard position is not as good as it was with Paul, but now, the Clippers are arguably better at both shooting guard and small forward.

With perhaps the best frontcourt in the NBA, outside of the New Orleans Pelicans, the Clippers will be just fine next season. With that being said, here are three bold predictions for the team that many won’t see coming.