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Los Angeles Clippers: Don’t expect a top-two seed in the West

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 24: Kawhi Leonard (R) and Paul George laugh as they listen to Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer speak (not in frame) during their introductory news conference at Green Meadows Recreation Center on July 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. at Green Meadows Recreation Center on July 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 24: Kawhi Leonard (R) and Paul George laugh as they listen to Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer speak (not in frame) during their introductory news conference at Green Meadows Recreation Center on July 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. at Green Meadows Recreation Center on July 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Clippers seem to have the best chances of winning the NBA Title but will do so without being the top team in the Western Conference.

It is hard to deny that the Los Angeles Clippers have the best title odds in the NBA. The team has a superstar duo that is second only to the Los Angeles Lakers and has a supporting cast around it that is perfect for a title-contending team.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are both fantastic in their own right; Leonard led the Toronto Raptors to their first-ever championship and might just be the best player in the league while George was a legitimate MVP candidate for the first time in his career.

What makes them special as a superstar duo is their defensive efforts. And alongside Patrick Beverley and Montrezl Harrell, the Clippers have the potential to be one of the scariest defensive teams in recent memory.

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We also cannot forget about Lou Williams, who is the best sixth man in the league. Having an impact bench player is huge for playoff teams and the Clippers so happen to have the best impact bench player.

All of that sounds great and should lead to the Clippers coasting in the regular season to the number one seed, right? Well, not necessarily, as it is not hard to see the Clippers falling to at least the third seed, and perhaps even lower.

The last time that a Western Conference team made the Finals without being a top-two seed was 2011 when the Dallas Mavericks shocked the world with their championship run. Since then, everything has been the first or second seed, a trend the Clippers are bound to break.

There are multiple factors that will lead to this being the case. First and foremost, Paul George might not even be ready by the beginning of the season after undergoing two shoulder surgeries in the offseason.

Having George miss time is even worse considering that Kawhi Leonard will likely miss time as well. While Leonard appears to be fully healthy, he did sit out of 22 games last year with the Raptors.

There is a chance that the Clippers play 30 games this season without having both stars on the court. In a very tough Western Conference, that is going to have an impact on the record books.

Plus, while the team has a great playoff rotation of eight or so guys, the Clippers are a bit thin for the regular season. According to ESPN’s unofficial depth chart, the Clippers’ second unit consists of Lou Williams, Landry Shamet, Maurice Harkless, JaMychal Green and Mfioundu Kabengele.

While that is unofficial, it does peel back the current and shows that when the Clippers’ bench expands to more than seven or eight guys that it might not hold up like other teams.

The regular season is a grind and these guys are going to have to get decent minutes, especially as the team wants to keep Leonard and George healthy. That too could result in more losses than expected.

And I know this is the last thing that Clipper fans want to hear, but there is a good chance that the Los Angeles Lakers have a better regular-season record.

Next. Examining a trade for Andre Iguodala. dark

But at the end of the day, the Los Angeles Clippers still have better title odds. Just make sure you keep that in mind if the Clippers are not as high in the standings as you expected.

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