@ESPNSteinLine: Darren Collison, I'm told, is going to the Clippers. Done deal. Two-year deal, player option in Year 2
Gonna back up Chris Paul again like the Hornets days (And cause controversy over who should start hence the "Collision") *edit* E Bledsoe / C Butler / (Grant Hill) into D Collison / JJ Redick / J Dudley They've gotten back just as much skill as they dealt away. Dudley can replace Butler at this point in Butler's career. Collison and Redick don't have the D of Bledsoe, but they add a little more shooting. Redick can handle the ball in a pinch. A few too many wing players. Clippers need to add a legit backup to Griffin. Lamar Odom was decent on D but a non-factor on offense, and he's gonna be gone. It looks like Chauncey Billups is gone, too. I think the Clips are at LEAST AS good as last year. And they have Doc Rivers > Del Negro, thats probably the biggest addition. Interesting to see who starts at SG and SF now.
How did they afford him? He should be a starter in this league (or at the very least a sixth man). No question the Clippers are a top 3 team this season. Paul/Collison/Billups Reddick/Crawford/Billups Dudley/Barnes Griffin/Turiaf Jordan/Hollins If they manage to get a PF like Austin Daye or a rebounder like DeJuan Blair they are set. But I have a feeling Cole Aldrich will end up there. Right now it is: Thunder Spurs Clippers Warriors Rockets If they land some depth up front then they move up above the Spurs.
There's a reason the Mavericks picked Jose over Collison, Collison is absolutely not a starter in this league. He is absolutely bleh at passing and reading offenses in general.
Thats why he's a backup. If he did know, he'd be a starter in the league. He signed for the mid-level exception, right around $2mil a year. So its not like they broke the bank for him. Not that it matters, but Collison goes back home. He's a SoCal native and went to UCLA.
Of course. But last year they weren't contenders. And they still have a huge hole at center(DeAndre Jordan? lol!) along with only slightly above average defense. The Rockets, SA, and OKC can all feature elite level offenses and defenses.
Jordan has been improving ever year. I expect the same this year. I expect him to play the role Kendrick Perkins played for celtics in 08 championship run. Doc rivers will bring out the best in him.
The Clippers are scary (never thought I'd type that) I look forward to matching up with them this year. If Blake could develop a post game (or learn to play D) they'd be the western favourites.
The problem lies therein the stars themselves. Griffin is what he is and will never be anything more, a Paul-led team is easy to strategize against for an opposing team (that's why they're always figured out in the playoffs). Nothing but a glorified D'Antoni Suns team.
