When things are going right for the Clippers, they are one of the most boring Fantasy teams around.
That isn't to say they don't have plenty of value to provide Fantasy owners, just that it is concentrated in the hands of a select few players.
Not many teams have been as top-heavy as the Clippers over the last few seasons, partially because of how dominant their stars are and partially because they just haven't been able to build a productive bench yet.
Even when injuries open up opportunities for those role players to step in, it's difficult for Fantasy owners to get too excited about the likes of Marreese Speights, Austin Rivers or Paul Pierce.
So, when it comes to the Clippers, there just isn't very much to talk about for Fantasy purposes.
Chris Paul is incredible. DeAndre Jordan is utterly dominant on the boards and in field-goal percentage (and arguably the worst free-throw shooter in NBA history). Blake Griffin is one of the most productive all-around big men in the league when he can stay healthy. Toss in J.J. Redick's elite shooting and you've got a core that fits together like a glove, and doesn't leave much room for anyone else to make a Fantasy impact.
The only real question this season is whether Griffin can avoid the nagging injuries that have cost him 62 games over the last two seasons.
Bouncing back?
You aren't going to get much in the way of defensive production from Griffin, and despite some talk of extending his range, he isn't much of a threat from 3-point range either. However, focusing on the holes in his game doesn't make much sense at all, because Griffin can be one of the most productive players in the game when he is healthy. Before suffering a quad injury and broken hand last season, Griffin was off to another incredible start, averaging 23.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. Some Fantasy players may be scared off by the injuries, especially after that quad injury prematurely ended his season when it returned in the playoffs. Griffin skipped Team USA activities this offseason to recover from the injury, but it is possible this is the type of recurring injury that could limit him in future seasons. Griffin is a borderline first-round player who might slip into the third round on Draft Day, which potentially makes him one of the best bargains around.
Contingency plans
The Clippers wisely scooped up Brandon Bass in the offseason, one of the best Griffin replacements they have had in recent years. If Griffin is forced to miss time again this season, Fantasy owners would want to keep an eye on Bass, who averaged 7.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in just 20.3 minutes per game for the Lakers a year ago. They could also go with a higher-upside player like Brice Johnson, the rookie out of UNC they snagged with the 25th pick. Johnson doesn't figure to play much as a rookie if Griffin stays healthy, but he could give the team another look that Bass might not be able to match at this point in his career.
