Are preseason odds too low on the Clippers?

Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor is joined by Trey Kerby of No Dunks to discuss the current odds for Los Angeles to win the Western Conference and if the team’s new additions are enough to have them contend for a potential Finals berth. Hear the full conversation on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

Video Transcript

Do you think the Clippers being the 5th highest odds in the Western Conference is too high, too low, or is that just right?

It’s too low during the offseason, because that’s one of the best times to talk yourself into the Clippers.

I always get suckered into buying into a James Harden team.

At two times, like August to September, where we start getting pictures of Harden in the best shape of his life, and then I also love, uh, guaranteed the Clippers will go on a winning streak in like February to March or something like that.

They’ve done a really good job of having an awesome, basically 1 through 12.

Some of their 9, 10, 11, 12 guys would be.

much higher in the pecking order on some of these other teams.

I think it’s probably good to have that much depth when everybody on the team is about as old as I am.

They definitely are tilted on the veteran side, but as we’ve said with many James Harden teams, as we said with a lot of Kawhi Leonard teams, if everybody’s healthy, they’ve got a really good chance.

I’m in, at least for right now, KFC.

You know, look, I, I, I think 5th with them is fair.

Uh, I would not go any higher than that for the Clippers.

Um, I definitely would not put them ahead of the Thunder, the Nuggets, or the Rockets.

I think the only team you could argue is like ahead of the Timberwolves, but the Timberwolves have also been to two Western Conference Finals in a row.

I mean, it’s like the most Clippers team, you know what I mean?

It’s all a lot of rejects, people that nobody has ever believed in or always doubted or said we’ll never get a ring.

When it comes to constructing a lineup, the foundation is.

Your bigs, and the Clippers now have flexibility that, you know, Tyler just frankly wasn’t able to have in recent years, and I think that makes them more interesting to me as a legitimate contender.

Is there any truth in that, Trey?

Or am I just, am I just, you know, really just pulling the strings here trying to figure out a reason to feel good about the Clippers?

For me, I don’t know if it’s a hot take.

I’ve got them ahead of the Lakers, at least heading into the season.

I think the depth is what I’m banking on for the Clippers and, you know, it’s gotta hit right sometime, right?

right?

I mean, what’s gonna happen first, KFC?

A championship for James Harden and Chris Paul or Ben Simmons switch his hands on his jumper.

Are preseason odds too low on the Clippers?

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