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NBA 2016-17 forecast: Pacific Division

By Brian Boake

November 17, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots the basketball against Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph (6) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Raptors 115-110. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 17, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots the basketball against Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph (6) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Raptors 115-110. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

Last season: 53 – 29

This season: 47 – 35

Few teams are under greater pressure than the perennially disappointing Clippers. Their starting talent is undeniable, yet they have exactly as many NBA finals appearance and titles as the Raptors, despite having been around since 1971.

They boast All-Star talent in Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, supplemented by long-bomber J.J. Redick and now veteran Paul Pierce. Ready to leap off the bench is 3-time Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford, and experienced help like Alan Anderson, Raymond Felton, and Marreese Speights.

Jan 24, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; NBA official Michael Smith (38) moves in to separate players after a fight breaks out between Toronto Raptors forward Patrick Patterson (54) and Los Angeles Clippers guard Jamal Crawford (11) in the second quarter at Air Canada Centre. Patterson and Crawford both received a technical foul. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; NBA official Michael Smith (38) moves in to separate players after a fight breaks out between Toronto Raptors forward Patrick Patterson (54) and Los Angeles Clippers guard Jamal Crawford (11) in the second quarter at Air Canada Centre. Patterson and Crawford both received a technical foul. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports /

Yet the team feels like it has plateaued, and that’s never a positive. I’ve got them slipping, which is what they did last year, falling from 57 wins.

Doc Rivers has proven himself an excellent coach, and he may be able to whip this bunch into finally winning now, which is emphatically what they are built for. But I don’t buy it.

Next: The best team ever?

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