I sat and pondered in my room the other day... I thought about our starting lineup as I drove down the 22 East back home. I tried to figure out what the heck happened and how we got ourselves here. Does anyone else not know what to do with themselves or how to feel? The never ending cycles of "there's always next year", blaming management, and tough luck. What is the dedicated Clipper fan to do with themselves?

Maybe it's the far fetched reason that the idea that Chris Paul is a Clipper. Maybe Blake Griffin's injury hasn't hit me yet, but I am floating on Cloud 9 as a Clipper fan. Just talking to the other few Clipper fans, its really a brand new world. What's more interesting though are the reactions from my friends that are Laker fans. I think the consensus reaction is the same. See: Steve Nash

Now let's get to Grant Hill. Yes, he's 40. Yes, its possible he'll get injured... but as a smart basketball fan, you will know how valuable this signing is. As a smart basketball fan you will know more so that this signing is BAFFLING. I am clearly unable to make ends meet. Grant Hill as you may know is chasing a ring. In past years, one does not come to the Clippers to chase the ring. Chris Paul choosing the Clippers as a destination for two years was a good indication of the changing times, but veteran players coming to chase rings in Clipperland isn't something that happens. Heck, I don't think this has ever happened?

Our squad as it stands has a good bench. Quoting a good friend 'our bench is good enough to beat a third of the NBA's starting line ups'. Of course that statement may hold some truth, I don't think a championship has ever been won because the bench was spectacular. There's a reason the starting lineup usually gets the most minutes.

Barring injury and other factors that can't be controlled to a higher degree, this team has flipped its persona again. Last year, the Clippers looked like a scrappy team with a chip on their shoulder. With the likes of Swaggy P, Reggie Evans, and Kenyon Martin holding the bench together you could call us one circus of a team. We had character, but not the upright, stand up, integrity filled positive character that would be boring to watch... but a character that would make epic comebacks, play their broken bodies through injuries, and lay it all on the court for every single minute of the game.

We've lost many of our key players from last year, but they've been replaced by an even smarter batch of players. Of course we have a glaring weakness at Center, but why can't DeAndre Jordan become the Center we all hoped he would be this year? Heck, I don't care what he does the regular season, let's just get him to play like a mad man in the playoffs. Clipper Nation, we are a lock for the playoffs and we are a championship contender. Last year the words "championship contender" were used with a heavy dose of salt. This year I think its safe to say we're one of the teams in the mix.

So my fellow brethren, how are you feeling? Have you begun to understand the scope of the situation? Have you taken the time to glance back and see what we have become and how far we have come? I am so excited for this coming year I really don't know how to feel! Can we say its safe to say that we've risen? If so, its time to change that Clipper line this year to reflect our progress!