If the headline had been "Summer's Best Offseasons" I might be able to agree with you. But, they chose instead "Summer's Most Improved Rosters." Doc Rivers isn't on the roster. And Chris Paul was already on the Clips' roster last season. It's great they got him to re-sign, but that's not improvement, that's just not regressing. Or another way to look at it, the Howard signing should take the Rockets from 8th seed last season to top-4 this season. The Clippers should go from 4th seed to... maybe 3rd seed, but they'll have to outperform one of Spurs/Thunder/Rockets to do it. That's the most improvement?
They seem to give re-signing and signing free agents the same weight. So it's obvious that if you count signing CP3 and signing Dwight a wash, the Clippers had the better offseason. I don't agree with it, but it's obvious that that is the way they thought this through.
Chris Paul will make JJ one of the most feared shooters in the league this year.His numbers should go through the roof. Clips have had the best overall offseason. Bringing Dwight in was HUGE for us, but until we solidify the 4 position, Clips have done better over all. Their guards are Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford, JJ Redick, Darren Collison, and Jared Dudley. No other team is bringing out a back court that deep. And Reggie Bullock will be a nice piece for them too. Kid can REALLY shoot the ball.
I think Howard used that as a another excuse for why he didn't like the Lakers. He ran pick and roll plenty with the Magic and he has already stated that him and Harden are going to be lethal at pick and rolls. I think really he just didn't want to say I HATE KOBE BRYANT and I don't want to play with him. For someone who has won 5 times Kobe is very negative. He is a ball hoag and he blames everyone but himself when things don't go right. Just look at how he said "I get the last word" with Dwight as is he is Howards father or something, the Lakers were treating Howard as if he was the red headed step child all the while begging him to stay. They practically gave him to us.
I am surprised that Landry and Jack are being considered as overpaid players. GSW will be a dangerous team, but their absence might be felt.
GSW imo will probably finish above Houston. GSW v. HOU matchups are gonna be crazy now that they have the Harden stopper.
Lol Reddick + Dudly >>>>>> Picking your Butt. As far as the Clippers go, it's a minor upgrade, if it is an upgrade at all.
sorry thats actually Dudley + Redick - bledsoe - butler > D. Howard Really dont think they even improved, so what if they got a new head coach.
They don't have a Dwight stopper though which makes stopping Harden harder not to mention Parsons too
Actually, Miami should be #1 this season because Lebron and D-Wade could've died in the offseason. But they didn't. So they improved.
I don't have any problem with the article. The clippers have definitely improved as now I doubt it is going to be Chris Paul doing everything by himself. Doc initiating and instilling the use of double ball screens and various down screens to get Redick open is going to be hard to stop. Dudley is also a very solid player and a very vocal player who's goal is to be a coach as well. Nets improved a lot but the 2 main pieces they have got are getting really old (KG still looked great with the way he was rebounding late in the season. Wow!) and Paul Peirce is still a great distributor and focal point when he is needed to be. The acquisition of AK47 is also so big, it should be getting way more buzz.
I do not like PJax yet he is the only coach since Auerbach who can manage the team's personalities to the max. Doc is almost that good. Clips' problems last season stemmed from a disrespect they evidenced towards VDN; that will be reversed this year. Will J-Kidd be able to do well with the Nyets? TBD. But, Doc will give LAC the presence they lacked.
Even if you try to treat is a "new acquisition", the fact remains that "signing" Chris Paul doesn't make them better than they were last year. If you were to give me a choice of a great coach or a great player, the great player wins every time (IMO)
