#1: Los Angeles Clippers
The final team that should show up as a major blip on the Lakers’ radar is the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers are the team that was favored to come out of the West in the 2019-2020 season. However, after an embarrassing playoff collapse in which they blew a 3-1 series lead against the Denver Nuggets, the Clippers will be coming back with a vengeance.
Despite the jokes and memes that have been made about the Clippers during and since the playoffs, they are still one of the best teams in the NBA.
They brought in a new coaching staff who could have a system that is better suited for Leonard and George’s styles of play. Along with this, the team has been given a year to adjust to playing alongside one another which can be one of the toughest tasks for a newly assembled team.
However, the Clippers did take one step back. It has been reported that they will be performing a sign and trade with the Los Angeles Lakers that will be sending Montrezl Harrell to the Lakers.
While this is quite the hit to the Clippers, losing the 6th man of the year, they still have a very talented bench. Players like Patrick Beverley and Lou Williams will be the glue that holds together their second unit and they have proven that they are more than capable of that.
Although we missed out on a Lakers and Clippers matchup in the 2020 playoffs, it is very hard to believe that it will happen again in the 2021 playoffs.