Vegas Over/Under: 43.5

The Record Projection: 42-40 of fromal The Bet: Prevent but lean under
The way you feel about this over/under probably depends on one crucial question: How easy is replacement Chris Paul?
The Los Angeles Clippers did a great job reloading after learning that Paul wanted a death to the Houston Rockets. Not only did they figure out how to pry some funds from his new home in a trade after he opted in, but they also convinced Blake Griffin to re-sign before adding Danilo Gallinari and Milos Teodosic into the fold.
This is a gifted roster with upside and ability at just about every position. It is far deeper than it has been in past years, though head coach Doc Rivers surely didn’t wish to obtain depth at the expense of his team’s best player.
And that’s the problem that is enduring.
Paul was not only the engine that made the Clippers run; he basically was that the Clippers.
Patrick Beverley and Teodosic should be strong replacements at the 1, but they can not replicate his ability to run the offense perfectly.
Whether Paul was calling his own band or setting up teammates, he controlled the flow of the game in addition to anyone. It’s why LAC was a shocking 19.6 points per 100 possessions better with him around the floor in 2016-17, in addition to the reason that he finished No. 2 overall in ESPN.com’s actual plus/minus, behind only LeBron James.
His job simply can’t be replicated.

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