HOOPSAHOLIC

The Clippers are loving life as the most popular team in Los Angeles, and this season they want to add a banner of their own to the rafters in Staples Center. With Doc Rivers entering his second year as head coach of the Clippers, a title is a realistic goal, especially with a roster that's loaded with talent. Now that the Donald Sterling debacle is in the rear view mirror, the Clippers are ready to roll. 

Most every NBA expert has said for years that Chris Paul is the best point guard in all of basketball and he's a top five player in the league. CP3 backs all that talk up with his play, last season averaging 19 points, eleven assists and four rebounds. The dude is a facilitator, maybe the best the game has ever seen. Last season in the playoffs he was outplayed by Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, so it'll be interesting to see if Paul used that as motivation in the off season to come back better than ever. With KD missing time with injury, and LeBron trying to fit into a new system, the MVP race is wide open. Don't be surprised to see CP3 take an early lead in that race especially if the Clippers start out hot. 

Last season Blake Griffin had the best season of his young NBA career. Griffin finished third overall in MVP voting behind only KD and King James after averaging 24 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He showed the basketball world that he's more than just an incredible dunk machine, and that he can lead a team even without CP3, who was dealing with various injuries throughout the season. Griffin has drastically improved his mid-range game, something that was lacking early in his career. I expect him to continue his improvement and become the best power-forward in the game. 

Last season under Doc Rivers, Deandre Jordan showed us all why the Clippers held onto the big man despite his atrocious free-throw shooting. Jordan averaged a double-double scoring 10.4 points a night while hauling in 13.6 rebounds. He's an elite shot blocker due to his size and athleticism, and people clear the lane when they know the big man is going in for a dunk. Jordan and Griffin seem to have a chemistry unlike any other post-combo in the league, so I expect to see even more things out of the duo in 2014-15. 

The shooting guard position will be a fun spot to keep an eye on this year. JJ Redick will be the starter once again at the position after averaging 15 points in 35 games played last season. He's been a knock down shooter his entire basketball career and the Clippers know they can rely on his shot on a nightly basis. Jamal Crawford will once again come off the bench as one of the more explosive second unit scorers in league history. Last season he won the Sixth Man of the Year award after averaging 18.6 points per night. This guy is the king of the four-point play, where you get fouled while still making the three-pointer. The Clippers feed off of the energy he brings off the bench and I think that will continue this season. 

The Clippers will have other valuable role players such as Matt Barnes, Glen Davis and Spencer Hawes that will be vital contributors to the team's success. I think this franchise continues to make steps, and I have them finishing third in the West, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them come out of the conference and make it to the Finals once June comes around.