Vinny Del Negro is out, and Doc Rivers is in. Lob City is out, and an emphasis on defense is in. The Clippers are still contending for a title, but taking a much different approach than their first two seasons with Paul. The verdict is in, and our panel has split judgments on various issues surrounding the 2013-14 edition of the Clippers. 

1) The Clippers traded two future first-round picks to Boston for head coach Doc Rivers this offseason. The changes are already being seen: "Lob City" is gone and Rivers made the decision to cover up the Lakers' championship banners during Clippers home games. What do you think the impact of Rivers will be in terms of on-court play this season?

Evan Budrovich: The Clippers will immediately become a Top 5 defense in the NBA thanks to the veteran savvy and strong principles provided by Rivers. The other big-picture aspect Rivers will improve is late-game execution, especially by drawing up tremendous backdoor cuts for guys like Barnes and Griffin. What has been underreported, however, is the impact that assistant coach Alvin Gentry will play on this offense, essentially giving the Clippers complex looks to play with that go beyond Vinny Del Negro’s 'pick-and-roll with corner shooters' offense that would stagnate against well-coached teams. 

Nicole Kim: With the signing of the championship-winning Rivers, the Clippers are introducing a much more structured offense. It’s definitely going to take awhile for Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan to get used to taking a more patient approach, but Chris Paul is going to like finally being able to put his playmaking brilliance to work.

Darian Nourian: I feel that Paul, Griffin and Jordan are going to mesh well with Rivers. With his impressive track record, Rivers garners respect from every individual player. Rivers will lock down on defense with half-court sets, and continue "in and out" basketball with better efficiency. 

Sareen Tavidian: Everyone is ready to hear about the change in dynamics for the Clippers as Doc Rivers takes control. Preseason has already made these changes evident, including Rivers’ decision to give Jordan zero minutes in the fourth quarter in last Wednesday's game against the Jazz. It is only natural for Rivers to be testing out options on the court, though, as he's trying to establish chemistry following the roster shake-up of this summer. 

2) In terms of players, the Clippers traded for J.J. Redick and Jared Dudley this offseason, and both should start. They also added Darren Collison, Antawn Jamison and Byron Mullens to round out the bench. Do you think this year's edition is a championship contender, or are the Clippers still a few chips away from being among the top three teams in the West?

Budrovich: Based on what they have on the roster, this season would be considered a major disappointment if the Clippers are not competing for the Western Conference title. They have bulked up their front-court scoring by adding proven shot takers in Jamison and Mullens, while Louis Amundson and Reggie Bullock provide just the right brand of toughness that fits Rivers' principles. It all comes down to executing the half-court offense in order to take the next step towards being elite. 

Kim: The only reason I’m going to say the Clippers aren’t championship contenders is because working in two new starters on top of a new head coach leaves them at a disadvantage compared to other West squads with an already established team dynamic and chemistry. But I also wouldn’t be shocked to see them make a surprise guest appearance as a top three seed, as Rivers has been known to work his best magic under pressure.

Nourian: I think that the Clippers are a good veteran big man away from becoming one of the top three teams in the west. They have their superstars in Paul and Griffin, have the best 6th man in the NBA in Crawford and have solid perimeter shooters, but where I think they lack is at the center position. As much as I love DeAndre Jordan's high-flying dunks and big defensive presence, his inability to have any presence on offense is what's holding the Clippers back. 

Tavidian: I’m going to have to say that the new additions to the team might actually pose a problem for the Clippers. Although all the trades were well thought-out, last year’s flow might be difficult to attain. With the acquisition of Redick and Dudley, the team has the same or maybe even more talent that last year. However, the Clippers have been known for their intense and undeniable chemistry. Clipper fans might be disappointed, because the departed Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler were major reasons for that chemistry. This year's edition might have faster and better players, but pure ability was not what made them so great last season. 

3) Blake Griffin's scoring and rebounding averages have gone down each year in his short career, but the general impression is that the former No. 1 overall pick has retooled and refined his game. What kind of player do you think Griffin will be this season compared to last year, and do you think his role will be different with Redick and Dudley, two noted three-point shooters, in the fold?

Budrovich: Blake Griffin will not take an enormous transformation in his game this season- the man is a freakish athlete who continues to make a living by going up strong to the basket. That being said, Griffin will certainly look to be more assertive with the ball in the block and should also look to utilize his quickness by beating defenders off the dribble in face-up spots from the post. The additions of Redick and Dudley are tremendous in their own right and should help the Clippers rise into the upper half of the league (15th last season) from behind the arc. But at the end of the day, Griffin will live and die on whether he can develop a more assertive short floater in the paint along with a solid post move to his off hand to complement the strengths of his game. 

Kim: It’s no secret that Griffin hasn’t been as productive as he used to be, but this season is his time to shine and show both fans and critics that he’s got more substance than style. We’ll still see an alley-oop or two here and there, but with Redick and Dudley in the mix, Griffin’s going to be expected to crash the boards harder than ever and step up his game in the high post.

Nourian: Griffin will assume much more of a facilitator role than ever before this year. He's going to have great perimeter shooters on the floor ,and if he is able to keep the defense honest by kicking the ball out for shots, his offensive game could be even more deadly.

Tavidian: Contrary to his scoring and rebounding averages going down each year, Griffin looks like he’s ready for another great season. Practice makes perfect, and from the looks of it, Griffin is also healthier than ever. His energy is consistent, but with Redick and Dudley in the mix, Griffin might be overlooked. Three-pointers might be the team’s strong suit this season, and Griffin's ability to stay on the court will be more important than his penchant for alley-oops.

4) With Collison, Jamal Crawford, Matt Barnes, Mullens and Jamison on the bench, the Clippers would appear set for another year with one of the NBA's strongest benches. How do you think Doc Rivers will utilize his bench, and do you see any of those players possibly moving into the starting lineup as the season progresses?

Budrovich: The “Tribe Called Bench” will continue to log significant minutes under Rivers, who has always been fond of spreading the wealth dating back to his first days as a Clippers point guard. What the Clippers do have this season, as opposed to last, are big men that create shots on their own in Mullens and Jamison. The biggest positive for this year's bench, however, is the fact that Darren Collison provides veteran leadership and reliability with the basketball to manage an offense, something the ultra-athletic but slightly raw Eric Bledsoe lacked. It may not be as flashy or star-studded, but the bench will provide plenty of reliable minutes to build on leads and actually make a difference for the entirety of the game, not just in quick bursts of momentum like last year. 

Kim: Rivers’ new offense is projected to rely on a lot of outside shooting, so he’s going to be rotating his guards a lot more than his posts. Luckily, he’s got himself a stockpile of sharpshooters to choose from in Paul, Dudley, Redick, Collison and Crawford. Crawford’s already proven himself as one of the most reliable 6th men in the league, and will probably be leading off the bench once again. Collison’s lightning speed gives him the best chance of moving up from the bench.

Nourian: Doc Rivers is definitely going to be running his bench into a 10-man rotation for the whole season. Crawford or Collison could easily start, but they are going to be such big sparks off the bench that Doc won't insert them into the starting lineup unless injuries occur. If everything pans out, the Clippers are going to have the highest scoring bench in the NBA with the exception of the Brooklyn Nets. 

Tavidian: As the new head coach, Rivers is definitely going to try different methods to get the team on track. Collison, Crawford, Barnes, Mullens and Jamison are strong enough candidates for the Clippers for the Clippers to keep their title of having the league's strongest bench. Crawford and Barnes will definitely be starters down the line as well. 

5) What is your prediction for the Clippers' 2013-14 season? 

Budrovich: The Clippers will finish with a 57-25 record, which is one game better than last year, but that will be largely influenced by the overwhelming talent in the Western Conference. Expect the Clippers to take home their second-straight Pacific Division title, but that’ll be the only banner they will add to the Staples Center rafters after they fall in the Western Conference Finals. 

Kim: They'll finish 45-37, good for the 5th seed in the West, but will fall in the second round once again. 

Nourian: I think that the Clippers will win the Western Conference in the regular season, going 61-21 thanks to their impressive depth. However, even with their newly added leadership and maturity, I still don't think the Clippers will make it past the second round thanks to a team from the Southwest like San Antonio, Houston, or even Memphis knocking them out. 

Tavidian: They'll end up 3rd or 4th in the West. Whether they make it past the second round depends on the chemistry and performance of the bench.