Look, I know what you’re thinking. I can hear you screaming at your screen right now. “Bet on the Clippers? On the road? Against Memphis and Minnesota?”
Yes. I am telling you to zig while the rest of the betting public zags. This is what we in the business call a “contrarian play,” but honestly, it shouldn’t even be controversial. It’s just logic.
We are witnessing a changing of the guard in Los Angeles, and the sportsbooks haven’t caught up to the reality yet. If you want to make some serious money over the next two weeks, you need to look at what just happened: The Clippers finally got rid of Chris Paul.
The Addition by Subtraction Theory
Let’s call a spade a spade. Chris Paul is a Hall of Famer, a legend, and a Point God. But recently? The reports coming out of that locker room were painting a picture of a “Locker Room Menace.” He was the “Locker Room Lawyer,” arguing every point, driving people nuts, and sucking the oxygen out of the room.
Think about the dynamics. Ty Lue wasn’t speaking to him. James Harden wasn’t speaking to him. Kawhi Leonard… well, Kawhi doesn’t speak to anybody, but you get the point. Even Ivica Zubac, who was playing at an elite level last year, looked lost.
The moment they sent CP3 home, the vibes shifted. It’s the classic “dead weight” theory. You remove the friction, and suddenly the machine starts humming again.
The Proof is in the Pudding (and the Hawks Game)
You want evidence? Look at Thursday night. The first game of the “Post-CP3 Era.” The Clippers didn’t just beat the Atlanta Hawks; they trounced them.
This wasn’t a fluke. This was a release of tension.
-
Ivica Zubac: 17 rebounds. He looked like the beast he was last year.
-
James Harden: 27 points and complete control of the offense.
Harden, specifically, is the key here. We have a long history of evidence regarding The Beard. When he is unhappy, he is lethargic. But do you remember “Post-Kyrie” James Harden in Brooklyn? Once the distraction was gone, he went on a terror. Do you remember Houston Harden when he finally got the keys to himself without CP3 the first time?
Harden is an All-NBA talent. People forget that. A motivated James Harden, paired with a rejuvenated Zubac in the pick-and-roll, is a floor of 45 wins. That simple play alone is unstoppable when the chemistry is right.
The Kawhi Factor
Here is the quietest part of this theory: Kawhi Leonard is actually playing well this year.
We get so caught up in the drama that we forget the Clippers have a top-tier superstar actually on the floor. With the locker room lawyer gone, Kawhi can just hoop. He doesn’t have to worry about the politics. He just has to get buckets.
The Roadmap to Profit: The Next 5 Games
Here is where the money is. The books are looking at the Clippers’ road schedule and setting lines that favor the home teams. They think the Clippers are in disarray. We know they are actually liberated.
Here is your betting slip for the next two weeks:
1. Tonight vs. Memphis (Away) The Grizzlies are tough, but the Clippers are riding a high from the Hawks beatdown. Ty Lue has the team focused. They are going to go into Memphis and trounce them. Take the Clippers.
We can already see Polymarket is moving toward LAC:
2. The Next Night vs. Minnesota (Away) A back-to-back in Minny is usually a “schedule loss.” Not this time. The Clippers have something to prove. They are going to carry that momentum and steal a win in Minneapolis.
3. The Houston Revenge Game This is the tricky one on paper, but look at the calendar. The Clippers have five full days off between Minnesota and Houston. They are going to be rested, prepped, and Ty Lue will have the game plan dialed in. They are going to smoke the Rockets.
4. Back to Memphis They play the Grizzlies again. By this point, the narrative will have shifted, but we’re already counting this as a W.
5. Dec 17th vs. Oklahoma City Thunder This is the climax. The betting public will finally catch on here, but you’ll have been riding the wave for four games already. The Clippers are going to walk into OKC on a four-game winning streak. It’s James Harden against the team that traded him (way back when) and the team he’s currently battling for seeding.
The Verdict
Don’t underestimate the psychological advantage of a team that everyone has counted out. The Clippers are motivated, rested (coming up), and finally free of the internal drama.
On December 17th, when they walk into OKC with a 5-game winning streak, everyone on ESPN will be talking about how “The Clippers are back.” But you? You’ll just be counting your winnings.
Buy the dip. Back the Clips.
Here is your roadmap for the next 5 games, including a review of the odds and why you should be buying Clippers stock immediately.
(Note: Odds for future games are projected based on current team standings and power ratings. Always check VegasInsider for real-time lines.)
Game 1: Friday, Dec 5 @ Memphis Grizzlies
-
The Matchup: The Grizzlies (9-12) are struggling just as much as the old Clippers were. But they don’t have the momentum of a “shackles off” locker room shift.
-
The Odds: The Clippers are opening as slight underdogs (+1.5) or essentially a Pick’em.
-
The Play: Moneyline (+105).
-
The Logic: Memphis is the perfect soft landing spot to prove the Hawks game wasn’t a fluke. Zubac (averaging a double-double) feasts against smaller frontcourts. This is a “vibe check” game, and the Clippers are currently checking out pristine.
Game 2: Saturday, Dec 6 @ Minnesota Timberwolves
-
The Matchup: A back-to-back on the road in Minneapolis. Usually, this is a scheduled loss.
-
The Odds: Expect the Clippers to be decent underdogs here, likely around +150 to +170 Moneyline.
-
The Play: Moneyline.
-
The Logic: This is where the value lives. The public will bet the “tired legs” narrative. But the Clippers have been “tired” of Chris Paul for months; they are now energized. If they beat Memphis, they carry a swagger into Minny that the books can’t quantify. Kawhi thrives in low-scoring, gritty games against teams like the Wolves.
Game 3: Thursday, Dec 11 @ Houston Rockets
-
The Matchup: The Rockets are off to a hot start (13-5), but look at the schedule. The Clippers have five full days of rest between Minny and Houston.
-
The Odds: Houston will be favored at home. Projecting Clippers at +130 Moneyline.
-
The Play: Moneyline.
-
The Logic: Five days of practice for Ty Lue to install the “Post-CP3” offense? That is terrifying for opponents. Harden loves playing in Houston (the strip clubs, the history, the fans). A rested Harden returning to Toyota Center is good for a 30-point triple-double.
Game 4: Monday, Dec 15 vs. Memphis Grizzlies
-
The Matchup: Back at the Intuit Dome. Rematch against the Grizzlies.
-
The Odds: By now, the secret might be out. Expect this to be a Pick’em (-110) or Clippers slight favorites.
-
The Play: Spread / Moneyline.
-
The Logic: Home cooking. If they beat Memphis on the road (Game 1), they will smoke them at home. This is the “confirmation game” before the big test.
Game 5: Wednesday, Dec 17 @ Oklahoma City Thunder
-
The Matchup: The Boss Battle. OKC is 20-1 (best in the league).
-
The Odds: The Clippers will be massive underdogs. Likely +250 or higher.
-
The Play: Moneyline.
-
The Logic: This is the specific game you circled. A 4-game winning streak Clippers team walking into the #1 seed’s house. Harden vs. his original team. The psychological advantage is entirely with LA; they are playing with house money, while OKC has all the pressure to keep the streak alive.
The “Let It Ride” Scenario: Turning $100 into a Goldmine
If you truly believe in the “addition by subtraction” theory, you don’t just bet flat. You roll it over. Here is what happens if you take $100 and bet the Moneyline on the Clippers for the next 5 games, reinvesting the winnings each time.
Disclaimer: This is a high-risk simulation based on projected market odds for road underdogs.
| Game | Opponent | Projected Odds | Bet Amount | Result | Payout (Total Bankroll) |
| 1 | @ Memphis | +105 | $100 | WIN | $205 |
| 2 | @ Minnesota | +150 | $205 | WIN | $512.50 |
| 3 | @ Houston | +130 | $512.50 | WIN | $1,178.75 |
| 4 | vs Memphis | -110 | $1,178.75 | WIN | $2,250.34 |
| 5 | @ OKC | +250 | $2,250.34 | WIN | $7,876.19 |
The Result: By the time the final buzzer sounds in Oklahoma City on December 17th, that initial $100 bill could turn into nearly $7,900.
Why? Because nobody thinks they can do it. But as we saw against the Hawks, this isn’t the same team anymore.
Check the latest odds here: VegasInsider – LA Clippers Team Page
