Clippers Clipped

Ah, the Los Angeles Clippers. Perpetually LA’s second team, 2008-2009 is proving to be one of the worst seasons ever even for a franchise for which mediocrity is a hallmark.

What particularly hurts for the Clips and their fans this year is that coming into the season, hopes and expectations were unusually high.

The Clippers have been decimated by injuries this year. And when I say decimated, I mean decimated. Yes, almost every team has to deal with injured players at some point each season, but in a sport where the gain or loss of just one player can have a major effect, the Clips have frequently had three, even four, starters out at the same time (yes, LA did have a horrible beginning to the season even with a healthy starting squad, but the injuries have precluded any chance of recovering from the weak start).

I don’t care how deep a bench may be. No team in any sport can succeed with 60% – 80% of their starting line-up among the wounded.

But, you know what? This may actually be a blessing in suprise.

Not for this season, of course. This year is already a total wash, with just under half the season to go. But the playing time that the Clipper bench is receiving filling in could pay huge dividends next year when the starting line-up is (hopefully) healthy. All this unplanned for experience could very well translate what might otherwise be a mediocre or, at best, unproven bench into viable, reliable subs next season–the type of depth any team needs to succeed.

It would not be the first time that a terrible record one season translated into valuable training for the next.

Take a look at the turnarounds that the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Rays both had in 2008. Neither team may have had the injury problems in 2007 experienced by the Clippers this year, but both teams did have terrible seasons. Essentially out of the post-season running before their seasons were under way, their young players received plenty of opportunity to learn on the playing field instead of in practice or in limited playing-time at the end of games. More playing time = accelerated player development.

If nothing else, that should give woeful Clippers fans some hope.

• December 16, 2008 -- Improving… (0)
• December 3, 2008 -- I Stand Corrected! (0)
• February 10, 2009 -- Poor Economy Doing It to Manny and the Mets (1)
• January 2, 2009 -- Hello, 2009 – Bye Bye Best Of 2008 (0)
• November 24, 2008 -- Coaches Dropping Like Flies (0)