LA Clippers NBA Team Betting Preview – 2020 Restart Season

Founded as the Buffalo Braves in 1970-71 the LA Clippers have existed since 1984-85.  Following a brief six-year stint in San Diego, the Clippers have been the ugly unwanted stepchild of LA from Day One.  Going back to their days in Buffalo the franchise has never even made the conference finals.  Late on the Clippers have been respectable with the NBA betting odds. LA has made the playoffs in seven of the last eight seasons.

Namely, Blake Griffin made them a contender from 2013 through 2017.  Griffin’s injuries were emblematic of the dark cloud over the team.  Kawhi Leonard arrived from the world champion Raptors last summer.  For all that Leonard is the latest to try and confound history.  Before the COVID-19 work stoppage, LA was a top tier contender.

2020 LA Clippers Odds to Win

Odds to win NBA Championship:  +333

Odds to win Western Conference:  +180

Record at Time of COVID-19 Suspension:  44-20 straight up, 35-29 against the spread, 29-34 under the total

Metric Rankings:  5^th for scoring offense, 11^th for field goal percentage, 10^th for three-point field goal percentage, 8^th for free throw percentage, 3^rd for offensive rebounds, 13th for points allowed, 3rd for field goal percentage allowed, 2^nd for three-point percentage allowed, 18^th for defensive rebounds

Standing:  2^nd place in Western Conference, 5.5 games out of first place

LA Clippers 2020 NBA Restart Schedule

Thursday, July 30, 9 p.m. ET, TNT:  Los Angeles Lakers

Saturday, August 1, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN:  New Orleans Pelicans

Tuesday, August 4, 4 p.m. ET, NBATV:   Phoenix Suns

Thursday, August 6, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT:  Dallas Mavericks

Saturday, August 8, 1 p.m. ET, TNT:  Portland Trail Blazers

Sunday, August 9, 9 p.m. ET, NBATV:  Brooklyn Nets

Wednesday, August 12, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN:  Denver Nuggets

Friday, August 14, TBD:  Oklahoma City Thunder

LA Clippers 2019-20 Season Review

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have completely transformed the Clippers franchise.  So too have sportsbook gamblers taken LA seriously.  Once blown off or a team to bet against the Clippers now offer value for handicappers.  Consider that LA covered the spread in six of their last eight games.  One difference between the first-place Lakers and Clippers is defense.  LA ranks in the middle of the pack on the back end.  Compared to the Lakers that explains the five-game spread between the teams.

Head Coach Doc Rivers

Doc Rivers was an NBA player from 1983 through 1996.  Specifically, he played for the Clippers in 1991-92.  Rivers has been an NBA head coach since 1999.  He was the NBA coach of the year at Orlando.  Most important of all was the 2008 NBA championship won in Boston.  Rivers has been one of the most successful coaches ever with the NBA lines.  His career record is 894-658 in the regular season and 84-83 in the playoffs.  In this situation of a compacted season Rivers brings the Clippers a strong coaching advantage.

Key LA Clippers Players

Last year Los Angeles native Kawhi Leonard made his name into a worldwide brand.  Leonard led the Toronto Raptors to a stunning NBA World Championship.  To illuminate it was one of the rare surprise titles in NBA history.  For the second time in his career did Leonard win a championship.  Also, he picked up his second NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.  Leonard played his college ball at San Diego State and is a four-time NBA All-Star.  Leonard is averaging 26.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game.

Yet another new arrival that was just as important is Paul George from Oklahoma City.  George is a six-time NBA All-Star.  George is averaging 21 points and 5.7 rebounds per outing.  Correlate the 2018-19 season in which he scored 28 points per game with the Thunder.

LA Clippers Restart Betting Outlook

In view of the Lakers dominance before play stopped the Western Conference is a steep climb.  Notwithstanding that is Leonard’s ability to carry a team all the way.