The LA Clippers are one of the NBA teams never to have won the title and for most of their history, they didn’t even come anywhere near to it. Often disparaged as a subpar team, they have an excellent chance to change that perception for good and win the most coveted trophy in basketball. Competition is tough and even though the Golden State Warriors are out of the picture, there are plenty of strong contenders. The fiercest opposition comes from their city rivals, as the LA Lakers are the top favorites in the West.
The Strongest LA Clippers Team in History
The Golden State Warriors have dominated the Western Conference in recent years and the NBA as a whole. Their grasp on basketball was so strong that the teams from their own division looked hopeless, especially the LA Clippers. Crippled by injuries and with some of their best players unable to perform, the Warriors now need a miracle to even make the playoffs. This provides the other teams in the division and conference with an excellent opportunity to ascend to the decisive stage of the competition.
The Los Angeles Clippers added Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Maurice Harkless while training Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Mfiondu Kabengele and Terrance Mann were also drafted before the season start, so overall the LA team is significantly stronger. They’ve emerged as one of the top favorites to win the NBA, with most bookies, such as those mentioned here ranking them nearly as high as the Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Building on a Solid Foundation
The LA Clippers have brought a mix of new talent and experienced players, to build a team capable of chasing the elusive trophy. They have the advantage of retaining most of their key players and unlike the LA Lakers, they didn’t have to trade away essential athletes. Lou Williams, Patrick Beverley, Montrezl Harrell, Landry Shamet and other talented players are at the core of this surging organization. Injuries remain a problem for any NBA team with high expectations and the LA Clippers are no exception. Recovery from shoulder surgery prevented George Paul from playing in the early part of the season, but he will be back in time for the playoffs. They have an entire year to build momentum and prepare for what will likely be a decisive confrontation with their city rivals.
