I'm not sure any player, especially a Clipper should say something like this and put unneeded pressure on a young team. On the other hand, this is one of the first times a Clipper has had something good to say about the team. 45-50 is a stretch though. Realistically, 38-41 wins would be a good season for the Clippers. It will be interesting to see how Brand meshes with that team too, because like the Rockets, the Clippers thrive off of chemistry on and off the court. Clippers welcome Brand; Odom predicts 45-50 wins (AP) LOS ANGELES -- Glancing over at the big new guy, Lamar Odom brashly predicted the Los Angeles Clippers would win 45 to 50 games next season. General manager Elgin Baylor's eyes widened, coach Alvin Gentry smiled and shook his head, and the newest Clipper, Elton Brand, looked unfazed. "Elton Brand can put us over the top right now," Odom said. Forty-five wins would be triple their number of wins two years ago, 14 more than they had last season, and their most victories in a decade. Fifty wins likely would put them in the playoffs for only the fourth time since 1976. Brand, a 6-foot-8, 265-pounder, was acquired from Chicago on Wednesday in a draft day deal for high school player Tyson Chandler, drafted No. 2 by the Clippers and immediately traded to the Bulls along with Brian Skinner. Introduced at a news conference Thursday, Brand said he was elated to join the Clippers. "I just can't wait to get started. I lost two games my last year (at Duke), then lost 200 over the past two years," Brand said, obviously inflating the number of losses in Chicago. "They have so many talented young people here on this team." Odom, taken by the Clippers with the No. 4 pick in 1999, is happy to be paired again with his former AAU youth teammate in New York. "When they said Tyson Chandler (as the Clippers' pick), I went upstairs," Odom said, waving his arm dismissively. "Tyson Chandler couldn't help us now; it would have been two or three years. "Then when somebody told me we got Elton, I couldn't believe it. I think this is a big piece in the puzzle" Odom, the Clippers' captain and, at 21 one year younger than Brand, is eager to play the two-time defending NBA champion Lakers, who also call Staples Center home. "That's the test for us. I'm going to be looking forward to it," he said. "We don't want to sell ourselves short; we want to go for it." Gentry downplayed Odom's prediction of 45 to 50 wins, saying it would "take a quantum leap" for the Clippers to improve that much that soon. "What we have to do is keep improving, have a team that makes the playoffs every year. That's our goal here," the coach said. ------------------ The Smurfs were Communists
Ha Ha Ha Ha.... ok needed that laugh. Maybe 35-40 wins at best...if alot of things go right for them. ------------------ "I have amazing, powers of observation"...Pink
I don't know what's funny, we made the same predictions after a 34 win season. And that team, on paper, is FAR more talented then the team we expected to win 45 to 50 games! ------------------ "Win if you can, lose if you must but always cheat!" - Jesse Ventura
Good piece for them and i agree that they will at least win 30, but you are in the West and right now 30 to 35 is pretty good. At least they are moving in the direction of success in this league. Just learn to win, fill a hole every year, and wait...the hardest one to do. ------------------ Take the blue pill, and wake up from the computer dream world. I'm a fan of basketball, and knowing the truth for some means finally facing it...
They won 31 games last year, without Brand. Now, their young team is more experienced and has added Brand. There is no reason why Brand won't add at least another 10 wins onto last year's record, barring injuries. If there are no devastating injuries, this team should win at least 40 wins, but 50 wins is a stretch. ------------------ "I look kind of dumpy. Look at my butt. And what kind of shoes do they have me wearing? At least they got the chinstrap beard right." -Kevin Garnett on the KG bobblehead dolls during KG bobblehead doll night at the Target Center
If Brand couldn't add 10 wins to a Bulls team in the East, how is his presence going to add 10 wins to a Clippers team in the West? ------------------ The Smurfs were Communists
He adds a low post scoring threat and rebounding to a team that sorely needs it. I mean seriously, do you think the Bulls would have won more than 3 games without Brand last year? ------------------ "I look kind of dumpy. Look at my butt. And what kind of shoes do they have me wearing? At least they got the chinstrap beard right." -Kevin Garnett on the KG bobblehead dolls during KG bobblehead doll night at the Target Center
I'm not saying he won't make the Clippers better, but an Elton Brand isn't going to improve your team by 10 games. 38-41 wins is my prediction. How many did they win last year? 31? A 7 game improvement would be good. ------------------ The Smurfs were Communists
TPL, 7 to 10 game improvement isn't a bad prediction, but 40 wins isn't out of the question, so whoever is ROTFL at Odom's statement obviously is oblivious to the fact that the Clips won 31 games last year, and are still improving and added a low post threat. ------------------ "I look kind of dumpy. Look at my butt. And what kind of shoes do they have me wearing? At least they got the chinstrap beard right." -Kevin Garnett on the KG bobblehead dolls during KG bobblehead doll night at the Target Center
Has Odom been hitting the ganja again? 40 wins is understandable, but no way in hell do they get to 45 or 50! ------------------
50 wins is VERY LIKELY in my opinion. Not just because of brand either. Lamar, Darius, and their whole friggen team will be a year better. THAT combination will get them 50 wins. In fact, the rockets better hope that phoenix plus another playoff team will decline i.e. portland for them to have a chance to make the playoffs. I just don't see them getting more wins than the clippers next year. ------------------ I am an invisible man.
I can see the Rockets EASILY getting more wins then the Clippers. The Rockets have a better coaching staff then the Clippers, a big reason for their turnaround. I think the Clippers will win far more games, but they're not ready for the playoffs. ------------------ "Win if you can, lose if you must but always cheat!" - Jesse Ventura
Your prolly right RM. I just really like the players the clippers are getting. The rockets staff are far and away better than the clippers for sure. And it is true the rockets were way closer to 50 wins than the clippers. So I guess the rockets will get the 7th seed in the playoffs, the clippers will hold down a strong 8th seed. Both teams will be around 50 wins. I'd say the rockets will get 52 wins. The clippers win get 48 wins. ------------------ I am an invisible man.
Add me to the side that predicts 40+ for the clipps. PG - Odom / McInnis SG - Maggette / Richardson SF - Miles / Odom PF - Brand / Miles C - KandiMan That line-up looks pretty tough. Brand by himself is not going to get this team 45 or more but another year of growth by Miles with the addition of Brand might. This is a team built on youth, athletism and lots of talent. And damn that line-up has some speed. ------------------
I see what you're saying LilStevie, I don't see 50 wins though. A 19 game improvement is HUGE, and I don't see it happening. I see them being in the thick of things for the playoffs if alot of things go right for them. ------------------ The Smurfs were Communists
crash, don't forget Piatkowski and Dooling. Piatkowski might not get any time because of whose in front of him at his position, but Dooling is an improving young point guard who will probably see more minutes next year. ------------------
Lakers Spurs Rockets Mavericks Blazers Jazz Clippers Sonics Kings These are my list in no order of the nine teams fighting for playoff spots. Suns could join this list if the Kings lose webber and the Sonics trade Payton. Nuggets would also jump in under this scenario. ------------------
Any injury to their big men would be devastating. Miles is as much of a 4 as Walt Williams is. If Brand or Kandi miss significant time, they'll be in trouble, as they have 0 depth at those positions. That said, I think they'll have a winning record, with 43 to 45 wins, and battle Phoenix and Seattle w/Brandon and Wally for the 8th seed. ------------------ "I think alot of people find Cato's game to be very offensive." -aelliott, comparing the offensive skills of Kelvin Cato and Michael Olowokandi
