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Los Angeles Clippers’ record after two months will be underwhelming

By Jason Reed

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 17: Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers yells to his players during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on November 17, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 17: Doc Rivers of the LA Clippers yells to his players during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on November 17, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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With the release of the NBA schedule comes the insight and analysis of each team. For the Los Angeles Clippers, the team will have a slow start to the year.

The Los Angeles Clippers are going to be looking to prove everyone wrong next season. Because right now, nobody really seems to believe in the Clippers not only as a competitive team but as a draw on the grand scale of the NBA market.

Los Angeles is obviously without its Lob City core, so it is understandable why the team is less marketable. Plus, it definitely hurts that LeBron James decided to take his talents to Los Angeles but decided on the team with the banners in the rafters of the Staples Center, the Los Angeles Lakers.

This has had a direct impact already on how much those outside of the Los Angeles area will be able to watch Clipper games next season.

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The Clippers have 15 nationally televised games next season, more than just seven other NBA teams. That is not all bad, especially considering the Clippers lack a true star and the market of LA is carrying the team to avoid the bottom of the list.

However, 12 of those 15 games will be aired on NBATV. So while that is considered nationally televised, it is not the same exposure as TNT or ESPN. The Clippers have three games on TNT and not a single game on ESPN.

More importantly than that, though, is how the Clippers are going to fare with the schedule. For the most part, not much changes on who the Clippers play; what changes is when and where the Clippers play certain teams.

With that being said, after taking a look at the schedule, it is apparent that the team is going to have a rough first two months of the season. By the time December rolls around, we put the Clippers ceiling at seven wins and 21 losses.

Yes, a 7-14 record seems to be the best possible record the Clippers can have heading into December. That is not terrible, but when it is the best possible scenario, it is not the greatest.

The Los Angeles Clippers quite frankly have a tough first two months of the year. Right off the bat, the team opens on a three-game home stand against the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder.

While anything can happen, those teams are far better than the Clippers and should beat LA, even away from home court.

Los Angeles then travels to New Orleans, which will be a close, tough matchup. The Clippers then travel to Houston, host the Washington Wizards and travel to Oklahoma City to round off the month.

The ceiling here for the Clippers seems to be two games, however, chances are that the team will win just one game while losing six.

November is not as bad as October but still presents some challenges. The Clippers play playoff teams in the 76ers, Timberwolves, Trail Blazers (twice), Bucks, Warriors, Spurs and Wizards. We are assuming the Clippers will lose all these games. If the team doesn’t, it will even out with a loss to a team that we think LA will beat.

After all this negativity, we have to tell you about who we think the Clippers can beat. Those seven wins (and of course, the exact games probably won’t happen as we predict but it will even out) will be against the Kings, Suns, Grizzlies, a split with the Wizards, Hawks, Nets and Magic.

The Los Angeles Clippers should win all those games, the team won’t. However, the Los Angeles Clippers should also lose all the other games I mentioned before, they won’t. However, in the end, the Clippers will still head into December with no better than a 7-14 record.

dark. Next. Hot start by Tobias Harris is important

At that point, it will obviously be time to re-evaluate and sell some expiring deals, such as Tobias Harris, for youth assets to help the team’s future and accelerate the rebuild.

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