Pacific Division
Los Angeles Clippers
For as happy as most Phoenix Suns fans were that Kawhi Leonard did not sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, when it was announced that Kawhi had decided upon the Clippers, news that was then immediately followed up with the Paul George acquisition as well, an already difficult team that had won 48 games last year led by Doc Rivers had now become a third juggernaut in the Pacific Division.
Although the Clippers are another one of those teams who had a lot of roster turnover (for instance losing Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), when they can replace those players with two superstars, and retain Patrick Beverley, Montrezl Harrell, Landry Shamet, and Lou Williams, the roster is going to be an extremely difficult one to defeat for the Phoenix Suns.
Now, if Devin Booker is able to step up his defensive game; if Deandre Ayton becomes a more dominant inside force because of Monty Williams’ coaching and Ricky Rubio‘s passing; if the Suns’ offense as a whole is far more free-flowing and open for shooters like Dario Saric, Cameron Johnson, Mikal Bridges, and Kelly Oubre; then maybe Phoenix can be good enough to knock off the Clippers at least once.
Kawhi and George have never played with players quite like the other so there will be a learning curve and I highly doubt that the Clippers are going to come out of the gate a 67 win team – heck, they may only be a 50-52 win team meaning 30-32 losses.
If so, why can’t one of those losses be to the Suns in a December and/or January home game?
It’s going to be difficult for them, but I will predict that one win, although such a prediction might literally be the homer in me as I too would not at all be shocked if the Clippers won in a dominant sweep.