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2022-23 Los Angeles Clippers Predictions and Futures Odds Picks

by Spencer Toth - 10/6/2022

The Los Angeles Clippers have all the pieces required to make a deep playoff run and be a successful franchise in the NBA, but they have yet to put it all together. Heading into the 2022-2023 season, the team looks better than ever. Led by two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers truly feel this is the year they finally capture their first NBA crown.

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Los Angeles Clippers predictions Kawhi Leonard

Offseason Recap

The LA Clippers had a quiet offseason, but the lone relevant move they did make is a big one. Adding John Wall to an already very talented lineup makes the Clippers that much more dangerous. Wall has been a consistent 20 PPG scorer throughout his career. And considering he will likely be the third option on the court, the Clippers have a luxury few teams in The Association possess. Although Wall comes with risk, having played only 40 games in the last three seasons, he has the potential to be a big signing… or he could be a complete flop. The Clippers are familiar with the injury bug ruining their title hopes. Another note is that while Leonard is not technically an offseason addition, he sat out the entire 2021-2022 season due to a torn ACL, making his return a dramatic transformation of this Clippers squad. If Leonard and Wall can remain healthy, this is a very dangerous Clippers team. But that’s a big if.

Season Expectations

The expectations for the Clippers are sky high. IF this team can remain healthy, it is one of the most talented rosters in the league. Possessing three lethal scorers, and one of the top benches in the league, the Clippers have the pieces it takes to win. However, as seen in recent years, they just can’t quite put it together. Whether it’s injuries, or a lack of chemistry, there is something intangibly wrong with Clippers squads of the past.

But there is optimism for this season.

The health of this team appears to be the best in a decade, and anything short of a Top 4 finish will be seen as a failure. The Clippers currently have the joint highest win total in the Western Conference at 52.5 wins, and they will be hoping they can eclipse that mark for the first time in seven years. Unfortunately, in order for this to be achieved, the stars have to play.

Leonard hasn’t managed to play more than 60 games in the last 5 seasons and will likely be sitting out back-to-backs. It isn’t yet determined how the Clippers intend to manage John Wall, but it’s safe to say he won’t be getting near the 82-game mark. This severely limits the ceiling for this squad, but the playoffs is a different story, where anything short of a Finals appearance will be viewed as a disappointment.

Schedule Breakdown

The Clippers have an easy start to the schedule, which is exactly what the doctor ordered. With their stars coming back from injuries, it will be a welcomed sight that eight of their first 10 games are against teams that finished under .500 last season. This should allow for some chemistry to build and good vibes all around in LA to start the season. The downside of this is that there are some very challenging stretches in the season. Highlighting this is the three-week period in late January that sees them facing an 11-game stretch with 10 road games, seven of which are against .500 teams or better. If the Clippers can survive that gauntlet, it bodes well for a possible playoff push.

LA Clippers Odds

In the regular season, the Clippers have the joint best odds to finish as the No. 1 Western Conference seed at +350. Similarly, they have the joint best odds of winning the Pacific Division at +200. In my eyes, the West is a four-horse race between the Suns, Warriors, Nuggets, and Clippers. Three of these teams play in the Pacific Division. Therefore, unless you believe the Nuggets are the top seed in the West, take the Number 1 seed odds instead.

In the postseason, the Clippers have the joint third best title odds at +700 and are a playable +350 to win the Conference. For this Clippers team, it will be either a home run or bust. If the team manages to click, string some wins together, and stay healthy, there is no limit to what can be achieved. The value here is immaculate. At +700, I will be all over the Clippers to win the chip, as if the team plays as well as it can, this is a bargain. If not, we will be left with our tails between our legs. However, at +700 odds, it is certainly worth a gamble.

2022-2023 Season Predictions

I will go out on a limb and say that these Clippers will exceed expectations and challenge for the NBA championship. In the regular season, I don’t expect the Clippers to be good enough, for long enough, to challenge for the No. 1 seed or the division crown. The load management their stars are sure to be under will prohibit the team stringing enough wins together to compete with the elite.

A mid to high playoff seed, and a 50-42 record, is likely on the horizon, but that won’t tell the whole story. In the playoffs, where the reins are taken off their stars, they will shine bright. After cruising through the first round, swatting aside a team like the Timberwolves, the Clippers will have a couple long, hard series on the horizon. Realistically, I foresee this team being eliminated in the 3rd round, but they will be certainly playing their hearts out. If some chemistry is found, a championship is on the way. I’m not saying it will be as bad as last year’s play-in tournament elimination, but the team will fall just short when it matters most.

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