2024-25 Los Angeles Clippers Predictions and Odds to Win NBA Finals
The Los Angeles Clippers have been unable to turn the mountains of talent into tangible accolades, and their core is now entering the tail end of their careers. Paul George has moved on to greener pastures, but the Clippers still have Kawhi Leonard and James Harden on their payroll. Can the Clippers make one last run at an NBA title, or will they unceremoniously fade into their long overdue rebuild?
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Los Angeles Clippers Offseason Recap
The Clippers had one of the more dramatic roster overhauls in the offseason. Let’s start with the departures. Paul George left for the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency after spending five seasons with the Clippers. George came to LA filled with expectations that he and Kawhi Leonard would be challenging for NBA titles on a yearly basis. George was not terrible with the Clippers, but he didn’t even come close to the 28 PPG in his final season with the Thunder. He suited up for 263 out of 410 regular season games, or just 64% of the contests.
In addition to George departing, the Clippers also lost 9-time All-star, and the 2016-17 MVP, Russell Westbrook. Westbrook played a bench role with the Clippers, but he was still a crucial part of this franchise both on and off the court. His playmaking and ability to lift up others around him will be missed. Daniel Theis and Mason Plumlee will also be starting the season with a new team. And while their 6.3 and 5.3 PPG won’t jump off the page, they were another pair of veterans who did a solid job off the bench.
The Clippers may have lost several key players, but they picked up some underrated starters in the offseason. Derrick Jones was a crucial part of the Mavericks run to the NBA Finals, as his defensive impact helped the Mavericks clamp down their opposition. Jones’s numbers won’t jump off the statsheet, as his 8.6 PPG was a career high last season, but his defensive impact will allow him to play heavy minutes for the Clippers. They also picked up Nicolas Batum from the 76ers, who is a strong 3-and-D veteran who can make a positive impact off the bench.
Derrick Jones was the most newsworthy signing for the Clippers, but it will be another new addition that determines the trajectory of this franchise. Kevin Porter Jr. signed with the Clippers in the offseason after getting off to a promising start to his career. The 24-year-old played his last three seasons with the Rockets, averaging a 17/5/6 statline. His off-court issues resulted in him bouncing around the league before getting waived last season. However, after a year off, he may be able to push the Clippers over the line.
Los Angeles Clippers Season Expectations
The Clippers are expected to have their worst season in over a decade. Their 39.5 win total is lower than their worst record in the last 13 years, and they are expected to miss the playoffs. The diehard Clipper fans will understand a championship is likely out of reach, but the Clippers still have more than enough talent to make the playoffs. Kawhi Leonard has been openly saying he doesn’t expect his ongoing knee injury to force him to miss long stretches. Leonard is one of the best two-way players in the league and joins LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players to win FMVPs with multiple teams. Leonard is in the twilight of his career. However, if he can even play half as well as the healthy version of himself did, he will be beyond impactful. Harden and Leonard may have lost George in LA, but this Clippers team is still very dangerous. Ivica Zubac, Terance Mann, and Harden all signed contracts in the offseason, signaling that the Clippers may still have one last gasp left in the tank.
Los Angeles Clippers Schedule Breakdown
The injury issues for the aging Clippers superstars make the schedule for LA all the more important. Six of their first eight games are at home, so they will be able to hit the ground running in the new season. Their longest road trip is 7 games in February. However, with two of those “road” games taking place at Crypto.com Arena against the Lakers, the Clippers avoided any legitimate lengthy road trips. The Clippers have a total of 14 sets of back-to-back games, which is slightly below the league average of 14.9.
Los Angeles Clippers Odds
The Clippers are one of the most underrated NBA teams this season. Their win total of 39.5 wins would be the worst finish for the franchise in 13 years, and I just don’t see that happening. Is the loss of Paul George impactful? Certainly. But the Clippers still have more than enough firepower left in the tank to finish .500 or better. Leonard is apparently as healthy as ever, and they did a great job at filling the holes their offseason departures left. The Clippers are -110 to finish with Over 39.5 wins, and there are some juicy ladder opportunities available. LA is -400 to finish with 35+ wins, +250 for 45+, and +450 for 50+ wins. They are +180 to make the postseason and have the 20th best championship odds at +10000.
When you are looking to make an NBA championship bet for an event 9 months away, upside is the key ingredient. There is no point in betting on the Celtics at +300, when, at the end of the regular season, even an extremely dominant one, the Celtics will still be at that price. For the Clippers, there is no guarantee a +10000 price tag will not be available as the playoffs get underway.
2024-25 Los Angeles Clippers Season Predictions and Best Bets
I am going all-in on the LA Clippers. After breaking down all 30 NBA teams win totals, this is one of the most confident picks to make. Kawhi Leonard is poised to stay on the court for long stretches this season, and a rejuvenated James Harden will give them the offensive spark they need. Zubac, Mann, and Jones Jr. round out a very strong starting lineup, and the Clippers have potential spark plugs on the bench too. Not only will they go over their 39.5 win total, they will finish with a 45-37 record. It is unbelievable that we are getting the aforementioned odds on the Clippers to hover around a .500 win percentage.
Their 45-win campaign will be good enough to give the Clippers a berth in the play-in tournament, if not a direct berth into the playoffs. I won’t go as far as to call for a +10000 Clippers championship run, but these Clippers could be turning heads in the late stages of the season. The upside is there for a longshot Clippers future, and do not hesitate to unload the bankroll on their season win total too.
Top Pick: LA Clippers Over 39.5 Wins
Pick: LA Clippers 45+ Wins +250
Pick: LA Clippers to Win the Championship +10000
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