This is the team to bet on to win a lot of cash this season as the Clippers are loaded with quality depth up and down the roster. The only thing that could derail this team this season is a big rash of injuries. I look for the Clippers to be over .500 this season and not only make it to the playoffs but he a threat to win a series in the first round. Put your money down on the Clippers to easily win more than 36 games this season.

First round pick Blake Griffin showed a lot of potential in the pre-season for the Clippers. He played in 7 games (5 starts) for the Clippers this pre-season and he averaged 28.0 minutes, 13.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He also shot 56.9% which is outstanding for a rookie getting his first taste of the NBA. The Clippers are hoping that Blake Griffin lives up to comparisons that people are making with Karl Malone.

The Clippers failed miserably despite having a pretty big payroll last year limping to a 19-63 record (22.2%). If that happens again then Mike Dunleavy will be looking for a new job. The Clippers have hopes of getting to the playoffs this season and they have definately upgraded the roster more than enough to do so. Dunleavy has a record with the Clippers of 194-298 (39.4%) during the regular season and he is 7-5 (58.3%) in the post season. Dunleavy’s career numbers are a little bit better as a NBA head coach as he is 592-688 (46.3%) during the regular season and he is 38-33 (53.5%) in the post season. The Clippers hope he can add some wins to that post season record of his.

The Clippers have a couple of injury prone players at center but they are very good ones. 27-year old Chris Kaman will be the starter for the Clippers in the pivot this season. He played in 31 games for the Clippers last season and he averaged 29.7 minutes, 12.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game. 35-year old Marcus Camby will back up Kaman at center this season. He played in 62 games for the Clippers last season and he averaged 31.0 minutes, 10.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.1 blocked shots. Camby’s playing time will drop some this season so it will be interesting to see how well he handles being a bench player. 21-year old DeAndre Jordan will be #3 in line for minutes at center for the Clippers this season. He played in 53 games for the Clippers last year and he averaged 14.5 minutes, 4.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. He has a bright future for the Clippers.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CENTERS IN 2009-2010: A-

The Clippers got lucky in the draft lottery last June and it allowed them to draft Blake Griffin. Griffin will start at power forward for the Clippers this season and the player he is most compared to is Karl Malone. If the 20-year old Griffin winds up being in Malone’s class the Clippers have a chance to go deep into the playoffs this season and beyond. 25-year old Craig Smith will be the back up at power forward for the Clippers this season. He played in 74 games for the T-Wolves last season and he averaged 19.7 minutes, 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Smith is a very underrated player who could thrive in the City of Lights. 33-year old Brian Skinner is back as the #3 power forward for the Clippers. He played in 53 games for the Clippers last season and he averaged 16.5 minutes, 4.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Skinner will provide excellent depth for the Clippers as he brings defense and rebounding to the court every single game he plays in.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE POWER FORWARDS IN 2009-2010: B