Utah Jazz: Way too early predictions for 2019-20 Western Conference standings

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 24: Paul George #13 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers smile during a press 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

2. LA Clippers

You might be surprised to find that I have the LA Clippers at number two, but let me immediately alleviate those doubts by saying that I still have the Clippers as my pick to win the NBA Championship. By no means does that mean they’ll be a shoo-in as the league is set to be as competitive as we’ve seen it in years, but they still seem a bit ahead of the pack.

That’s because they added reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to their mix and paired him alongside MVP candidate Paul George. Considering that Leonard just led the Toronto Raptors to a championship in his first year there, him doing so on a more star-studded and equally (if not more so) talented and deep Clippers team seems just as likely. Sure, the path will be harder in the West, but the Clips are well-equipped to do so.

So why do I have them second instead of first if I’m so high on them? Well, mostly because my bet is that we’ll see the Clippers exercise caution with Kawhi, and George for that matter, just like the Raptors did a season ago. Leonard’s load management program kept him fresh and at peak condition for the playoffs even if it did drop the Raptors to the second seed behind the Milwaukee Bucks. That’s a sacrifice that LA will likely make even in a tougher conference.

There are questions also about Paul George’s health as he’s coming off a pair of shoulder surgeries this summer. As either of those two miss time for health and/or resting, it will cost the Clippers some wins. LA will have to be more careful with letting Leonard sit out than the Raptors had to be in the weak East, but they’ll likely still take advantage of some wiggle room. The Clippers were a playoff team without Kawhi, so they’ll still be dangerous even when he doesn’t suit up.

Therefore, while a few missed games here and there could cost the Clippers enough losses to drop them out of the top seed, I still believe they’ll be ship-shape come playoff time and easily one of the most daunting opponents in the Western Conference in their pursuit of a championship.