[The8thDeadlySinParticipant]

I was just reading some stuff on Yahoo! and saw this as a title.

"Kenyon Martin joins an NBA contender after an ugly battle over his overseas deal is resolved."

Are we already calling the Clippers contenders?? Yeah, they are tough and only getting better by adding Martin but do they have the chemistry to battle the Thunder, Lakers, Spurs, and Mavs??  If they get past them, can they compete with the Bulls, Magic, or 76ers??  (All in a 7 game series)

I know they are talented enough but so much of the playoffs is more than talent. 

In your opinion, are the Clippers "contenders?"

PS – When quoting at the end of a sentense, the punctuation of the sentense goes inside the quotations.  The question mark inside the quotes does not have any impact on the intent of the post.

[tli232]

I wouldn’t call them contenders, but I feel like this year, there’s a whole bunch of top teams that can compete with ANYONE in a seven game series:

– Heat

– Thunder

– Mavs

– Lakers (Kobe effect)

– Spurs

– Clippers

– Bulls

 

In my mind, all of these teams are ~equally contenders. Based on the above teams, being a contender really isn’t saying much.

 

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

I don’t see how they’re not contendors.  They have a top 2 point guard in the league.  A top 3-5 power forward in the league.  Two starters that have won championships.  An energized defensive center.  They are also pretty deep, Gomes, Foye, Bledsoe, Williams, Evans, and now Martin?

They’re an extremely talented team and I think you’re underrating them.  They’re not just flash, they’re substance. 

They’re 3rd in the West so far and there aren’t too many duos that can outdo Griffin+Paul.  I mean, seriously, what duo is as good or better?  LeBron+Wade, maybe Durant+Westbrook… when either big is consistent Kobe+Gasol/Bynum.

It’s very difficult to match-up to these guys because they are so well built, they have the perfect inside-outside combination with Paul and Griffin.  They’ve got tough defenders and shooters with Billups and Butler.  And they’re interior defense is only improving.

To be honest, I don’t see how they’re not contendors. 

[mcbaileyParticipant]

It’s tough to say at this point, but it feels like the Clippers are capable of beating anyone just based on talent alone. If the playoffs started right now, they wouldn’t win a seven game series against OKC, Miami, or Chicago, but I imagine they’ll get a LOT better as the months progress. They could be the most dangerous team towards the end of the season.

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

Any other season I wouldn’t, but with the shortened season many more teams can be considered contenders. So to answer the question, yes, they are contenders to me.  

[tuck243Participant]

In this 66 game season expect anything could happen… Every decent team is a contender this year and don’t be surprise to see superstars not healthy for the playoffs…  I really think the West is wide open right now… And the East only the Bulls are looking like the team that can’t be beaten in a 4 game series…  I don’t think Miami would be healthy by years end…

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

I mean, they will more than likely make the play-offs. I would be surprised if they missed the play-offs. But, I would also be surprised if they made noise in the play-offs. Lets remember, Kenyon Martin has a lot of the same issues as Blake Griffin, not to mention his usual lack of durability.

K-Mart is known as a rugged defender, which is of course what separates he and Blake, but this team does not exactly get a big time scorer. Have to say, beyond Blake Griffin and sort of Caron Butler, that front court is pretty poor offensively. I guess K-Mart might help a bit, but I think the Clippers still have things to work on to truly become "Contenders". To me, "Contenders" means contending for a championship. If the Clips did this, even in this lockout shortened season, I would deem it miraculous.

[Michael.S.Participant]

" If they get past them, can they compete with the Bulls, Magic, or 76ers?? "

Nice shot at the Heat. The Clips will have a deep playoff run but their frontcourt isn’t all there yet.

[JoeWolf1]

 I don’t think so, I think they’re a team who could make it out of the 1st round of the playoffs.  Lets not get ahead of ourselves.  This was a non-playoff team last year, and although they are much better this season, that is a HUGE step to go from outside the playoffs to a team capable of winning the title.

There are a lot of good teams in the West and in order to be considered a contender, I feel like you have to be one of the favorites to win your conference.  LAC is kind of a 2nd teir playoff team IMO.  They’ll probably make it, maybe make it out of the 1st round, but be outclassed badly if they run into a real contender like OKC in the playoffs.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

They struggle scoring in the half-court, especially when Chris Paul isn’t in the game. They get a lot of highlight blocks, but the team still isn’t all that good defensively.

They still have work to do before I can consider them contenders.

 

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

 I really don’t see anyone in the West beating the Thunder in 7 games, they are freakin good. 

And if 4 of the 7 games have to be played in OKC, maybe somebody might upset them, but as of now I don’t see the Thunder losing in the West, if they don’t make it to the Finals they’re season will be deemed as dissapointing.

[NYK2010Participant]

The Clippers should be ahead of the Spurs.

I do think they are contenders because of Chris Paul.

[MJ FOR LIFE 23Participant]

In a span of a few months, Clippers went from just an exciting team to a playoff contender and now to a title contender and I don’t see why not. They have the 04 finals MVP in Billups, a world class finisher in Paul,  a playoff vet in Butler, and once Griffin tastes the playoff rounds then watch out. This year is more of a feeling out process for the team especially because of the rough schedule and less practices but they have already beaten top contenders like Thunder, Miami etc. Next year though, the league better prepare for the storm that’s coming!

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

 The Clippers are good,but it’s a bigger monster in the West than them and that’s OKC.

Are the Clippers good? Yes

Are they a playoff team? Yes

Are they title contenders? No

[SupParticipant]

Clipppers are the favorite in the West now. Open your eyes they beat the snot out of the thunder a couple nights ago. They have now added kmart which means they have 9 legit starters. The thunder? They have them beat in every position except wing forward. Be realistic. IF the Lakers are done making moves the Clippers will remain the western favorite

Leadership
Depth
Talent
Athleticism
Size
Shooting

Championship

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

 Regular season means nothing my brother, Milwuakee has whopped on the Heat 2 times already, do you really think that means they can beat them in a 7 game series? NO

The Clippers are good, but they cant beat OKC in 7 games man, I dont see it.

[JoeWolf1]

 The Thunder are playing without their best perimeter defender right now.  People overlook Thabo, but he makes OKC a better team.  They really missed him as Caron Butler went for 22.  The Clippers beating OKC at home without Thabo doesn’t mean they are a better team, just that they were that night.

One game isn’t that meaningful when comparing teams.  The Wolves beat LAC and they are not a better team.  If LAC continues to beat the Thunder then you might have a case, but I’m with youngdave, one game at home doesn’t mean much. 

[Game760Participant]

Of Course the Clippers are Contenders cuz of one person…CP3..this dude made Aaron Grey or whatever that scrub on his team was last year look like an NBA center and gave fits in 1st round …He can take over a game by himself he’s just trying to get a feel for his teammates so he hasn’t…him at the end of a game no one wants to see him ..
Can easily see Clippers making it to Western Conference Finals,Specially with newly acquired KMart

[billykParticipant]

If they are healthy of course they are title contenders, I think they have a great mix of youth (Jordan, griffin) and veterans (Bulter, billups, kmart), sprinkle a superstar chris Paul; they have a great chance to make the WCF…. Two things a critical: Griftin and Jordan needs to pattern their defensive intensity off of Kmart and they need a good draw in the playoffs…

[NYK2010Participant]

If the Lakers continue to slump, Spurs and Mavs don’t make a big move before the deadline the Clips could be the 2nd best team in the Conference.  I’d rank them higher than Denver because they have more experienced playoff veterans.

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