"We're going to go to the playoffs this year" - Mo Williams

When training facilities opened Thursday, Blake was the first player to get to the Clippers' training facility and worked out for about 2 hours according to reports.  That is an indicator of the work ethic of the Clippers' superstar in the making.

Blake returning to practice (thanks Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) 

This kind of dedication and leadership combined with his basketball talents are part of the reason the Clippers are poised for a breakout season.  Mo Williams has already made the bold prediction of guaranteeing a playoff birth this season.  I feel strangely comfortable with the idea of the Clippers in the West best 8.  In fact, I have a feeling that they'll do more than scrape in and might see themselves as high as the 4th or 5th seed if everything comes together. Not only that, but their long term future looks bright too.

The team has a young core of 23-year-old center DeAndre Jordan, 22-year old Blake Griffin, and guard Eric Gordan, who turns 23 on Christmas day.  Considering Jordan and Griffin were 2 of the 3 most frequent dunkers in the NBA, Gordan will be getting a lot of easy assists for a long time.