Our Playoff Chances?

We really need to win the next 4 out of 5 games to finish out January. 4 of the 5 games are at home, with only Seattle on the road. Those 4 wins would put us one game over 500 and proably ahead of Minnesota for the 8th seed. Minnesota is currently one game over but I am counting on us beating them at Staples this week. Moving higher than the 8th seed will be difficult. Denver is currently 3 games over for the 7th seed, but with Carmelo coming back, their winning percentage could increase. The 6th seed is currently held by Houston who is 9 games over 500. I don't want to make our playoff chances look dismal, but with the 8th we get Dallas, the 7th seed we get Phoenix, and with the 6th seed we get San Antonio. None of these teams are currently losing very much. It is not until the 5th seed that you chances improve of moving up after the first round and you have to pass the Lakers or Utah to get there. And with the 5th seed, you would start on the road against whomever you get. This slow start has really hurt the Clippers. And they currently are not consistantly playing like a team that can do a lot of damage in the playoffs even if they get there. Ok, anybody out there got a miracle to make this picture look more bright? Yeah, I hear you, Ray Allen!

It looks like its gonna be Denver, Minny, Clippers and Golden State all fighting for 2 playoff spots. I believe Denver will get it done, now that Anthony and Iverson are both on the court. So the ball is in our court. We can beat Milwaukee (I know this) and I agree with JamFan in that we gotta win 4 of 5. We are getting a lot of home games early, so we need to get those victories when the road ones are gonna be tougher near the end of the season.

There's a big chance of us making the playoffs. As far as advancing, it would take a miracle. But im fine with that because this team has a few areas to tweak yet before it can be a serious contender. Maggette's unhappiness with Dunleavy being the main one.

I think this team just making the playoffs is a success. I would be satisfied (only for this year) with that. Missing the playoffs will be a dissapointment.

Can the Clippers make it to the playoffs on the seventh or eighth spot? Certainly. But I beg to see what good would come from it.

Other than the fact that making it to the playoffs on consecutive years would give the Clippers credibility, which is something they sorely need, a playoff berth won't mean much.

Look at the Clippers' record against Tier 1 or even Tier 2 teams. Abysmal. Heck, the Clippers can't even beat a lot of the teams from the East -- which is saying a lot.

So what happens if the Clippers get a eighth or seventh seed in the playoffs? Do any of you honestly think the Clippers can beat the Suns or Mavs in a best of seven series? Especially considering how well the Clippers play away from home? Not only have the Clippers lost every game that's mattered against the Mavs, Lakers, Spurs, Rockets, Utah, ect. -- the Clippers have managed to lose those games by A LOT.

The worst part is that after February the Clippers' schedule only gets harder.

Bottom line: Unless the Clippers pull off a major trade or come out of all-star break with a vengeance, I think the Clippers would be better off settling for lottery picks and hoping to build or trade their way up post-season. At least the organization will be more fired up about not making playoffs that they'll be forced to take some kind of action. That's the plain truth behind it.

Of course.We still can make the PO.But we still need to find our game...In my opinion Kaman is still doing the preseason.I have no doubt that EB is going to play very well, Cassell and Magg the same.But Kaman is the other piece of our success and he has to find the rythm and dominate.As far as Kaman plays as he's suposed to do the Clippers will get the PO...We need 15 points and 10 rebounds per game from Kaveman.And every Clipper suporter knows that he can do it...

Once we are in PO I don't mind our rival...every team has great players.Maybe the Mavs and the Spurs are the worst but I would be happy getting the PO in the 8th seed

After last season, many pundits had the Clippers doing big damage this season. It hasn't happened. Livingston has improved only slightly if at all. After making a major move last season, Kaman has actually regressed this season. He has gone down is almost every statistical category. Funny, right after he has signed a big long term deal. I have mentioned his weight before. Look at a pic from two seasons ago, or even last season. He is a tick slower at everything, and he doesn't even bother to bend over to pick up anything lose on the floor, he watches it roll by. Cat is bidding his time while enjoying his long term deal. Coach has suddenly lost his mojo, right after signing a big long term deal. Now we know why Sterling has been so reluctant to sign the big long term deals. Sometimes it reaps benenfits, sometimes it doesn't. Brand and Maggette are earning their money. Sam does when he is healthy. Q & Singleton do but don't earn much. I say keep those five and see who you can pawn all the other underachievers off on and get players who want to play. I would trade all of the underachievers for a Ray Allen or KG.

Guys, I know we all had high expectations for the Clips and they are not pulling their weight right now but there still is alot of games to be played. Keep our hopes up. We need to get to the playoffs no matter what!! Once you are there anything can happen. Why do we automatically expect defeat if we reach the playoffs. We are no longer a lottery team so don't settle for it!! I was at the game on Sat and even though it was against Memphis, they showed me something. There was a spark, they played defense, they were scrappy. Hopefully we can se more of that tonight. Don't give up hope Clipper Nation. All these trade rumors need to be put to rest, it is hurting our team. We need Maggette to be successful. If anything trade Cat or Livingston. AI should of been a Clipper but oh well. Go Clippers.

It'll be a battle to make the playoffs because of the poor start, but I think the guys can get it done. And yeah even if we do get the 7th or 8th (or even the 6th) we'd be going up against either the Mavs, Suns, or Spurs. But heck anything can happen once you get into the playoffs. The talent level is there to make it happen.

Whatever happens...Just remember: teams dont become dominant after one good season. Think of this year as our sophomore slump. This year is where we fine tune the team. It's evaluation time. Sure I really think it would be a dissapointment if they miss the playoffs, but its not a step backwards. Its a step forward. The identity of this team will be carved this year and the benefits will be reaped in the years coming. Making the playoffs and getting blown out by the best team in the league is no failure. It will bring confidence to the team to make the playoffs, but also hunger by getting shut down in the first round. Or maybe we will pull the upset. Nothing is impossible.

Stay positive guys. This year is gonna continue being bumpy, but it's an important step in the rebirth of the Clippers.

Jlemmen43 always seems to be the voice of reason.

Just making the playoffs doesn't count for anything. I don't understand the whole "playoffs or bust" chant. As if some magical pot of gold awaited each of the teams that made it into the playoffs. The only thing awaiting the Clippers in the playoffs is a swift butt kicking, either from the likes of the Mavs or the Suns.

Just look at the Grizzlies. Did anything great await them after making it to the playoffs year after year? Did better things happen thereafter? No. They got swept, Pau got injured, and the owners tried selling the team.

I was really rooting for the Clippers more than anything last year in the playoffs because I honestly thought they had a chance of winning it all. Even if the Clippers had made it on the 8th seed, I still liked their chances against any team in the West.

This year? Not so much. I don't think the Clippers are in the position to beat anybody. There's no sense of urgency; no sense of drive. There's no player or coach chemistry, so if the Clippers manage to squeak by on the 8th or 7th seed (which they should), they'll be exposed.

Like I said before, the only way this changes is if there's a personnel change(s) or if the Clippers suddenly mount a serious winning effort near the last third of the season. Then there'll be reason to cheer for this team going into the playoffs. However, just praying for the Clippers to make the playoffs isn't going to amount to anything.

I'd just like to comment on what TGMosesIV said:

"Reason for cheer". I'm sorry, I'm a diehard Clippers fan, and I will cheer them on anytime. I dont need a reason. The Clippers losing doesnt make me sad or bitter.

The "making playoffs or bust" chant is important because to make the playoffs, this team will have to give it their all. If we make the playoffs, its because we were determined, hungry and focused. It will be an accomplishment.

The Grizzlies situation is much different than here. We have pieces in place. We need a few "tweaks", not an overhaul. If we overhaul this team, we throw away any breakthrough or momentum that last season created. This team was formed on the shoulders of Brand and Maggette, energized by Cassell, fundamentalized by Ross and others. If we found a way to win last year with almost the same team, it's not personnel changes that will instantly turn this team around. It's growing through challenges and obstacles as a team. Yeah we can all agree there will be some changes, but keep in mind they must be only for improvement not desperation.

All I'm saying is put it in perspective. We arent as good a team as Dallas, S.A. or Phoenix. I think were just as good as the Lakers, Jazz, Rockets and Nuggets. They've just found more ways to win this year. In perspective, we dont have the team chemistry to compete with the top 3. So making the playoffs IS good enough this year. If we dont have enough right now to win it all, there's no reason to be critical or negative about it. Enjoy the season for what it is. GO CLIPS!!!

If the team continues to play with the energy that Kaman and others played with last night, their potential is unlimited. That energy is the energy you see in the playoffs. I think that the Clippers had become complacent over the last couple of months and.......I'm going to say it.....bored. Their slow down, pound it in offense, bores players. Last night they pushed the ball on occasion and CREATED. It is the opportunity to create that excites players. Our current offense only allows the to go through the motions. Boring. Moreover, Dumleavy, constantly standing on the sidelines, waving his arms, pointing, shouting, the players don't even look over there anymore. I wish he would just sit down and shut up. Let his team play. They know how to play. They do not need a babysitter.

So now we are all alone in the 8th spot for the playoffs. Congrats Clippers. The next goal is to get above 500 and stay there. If we win 2 of the 3 remaining games in January, we will be 23 - 22. Saturday we have the Wolves here at home. Then next Monday we go to Seattle. And then next week we have Da Bulls at home again. This is doable. The Bulls are playing well and will be our biggest challenge but we could win all three if we keep playing the way we have lately.

2 out of 3 aint bad. 3 out of 3 will be the best thing to happen for this team this season since the 5-1 start.

I think the same...We must try to get all the games because they aren't versus elite teams like Phoenix or Dallas...I repeat:Kaman is a big part of our success and the other players must involve him sending him balls in the paint where he moves like fish in the water...

To make the playoffs we need to first reach the .500 mark, then play some consistant basketball, which should be much easier with Kaman coming back from injury now, marking the returning of our deadly inside combination of Kaman and Brand. When these two guys get back in sync with each other on the court then we won't struggle to play some consistant basketball.

With teams like the Hornets and Timberwolves chasing closely behind us it will be a task in itself to maintain the 8th spot but I think we have far more talent then both of those teams and it is simply a matter of ball movement and distribution, if we use the two big guys in the middle to run our offenses through, then we will get easier shots and the game will become a lot simpler. Neither the Hornets or Timberwolves have the advantage of a solid 4/5 combination who can rebound, defend and score, which I think sets us above them in our ability to slow down the pace against better teams like Dallas, Pheonix and San Antonio, which will work to our favor down the stretch to claiming the 8th spot.