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LA Clippers’ Competition: Ranking Pacific Division for 2016-17

By Tom West

November 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) speaks with guard Chris Paul (3) during a stoppage in play against Toronto Raptors during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
November 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) speaks with guard Chris Paul (3) during a stoppage in play against Toronto Raptors during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Kevin Durant (center) addresses the media with head coach Steve Kerr (left) and general manager Bob Myers (right) during a press conference after Durant signed with the Warriors at the Warriors Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Kevin Durant (center) addresses the media with head coach Steve Kerr (left) and general manager Bob Myers (right) during a press conference after Durant signed with the Warriors at the Warriors Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

1st place – Golden State Warriors

2015-16 record: 73-9 (1st in Pacific Divison)

2016-17: 67-15

Does it really need explaining? The Golden State Warriors (barring major injuries) will have the best  record in the NBA and win the Western Conference and Pacific Division in the process. Talk about a hot take, right?

The best shooting team and the best regular season team of all-time just added one of the best scorers we’ve ever seen in Kevin Durant. Even though they’ve lost some depth and size in Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli to accommodate for his salary, Durant joining the Warriors is pretty much as seamless a fit as you could find when adding a superstar to a super team.

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Their new combination of shooting, pace, and sheer number of weapons to keep defenses hopelessly running around and switching to no avail is more than enough to make them the NBA’s new top team.

Sometimes people seem to gaze over the fact that the 73-9 Warriors actually lost the NBA Finals, becoming the only team to lose a 3-1 lead, not to mention doing so as the best regular season team in history with the first ever unanimous MVP.

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As always, LeBron James and his Cavaliers cannot be overlooked. But when Durant upgrades the Warriors to “Mega Death” lineup level, offers even more shooting prowess (which will be easier for Durant, given the increased space he’ll have in Golden State’s offense), another go-to scorer and the kind of post-up option that they didn’t have last year, their offensive potential is absurd.

Add on his length and defensive ability to the equation, capable of forming a terrifying small-ball lineup at the four next to Draymond Green at center, and the Warriors’ free agency was nothing less than a dream.

Slipping back from 73 wins seems relatively certain at this point. The desire to push for the record is no longer there, and Steve Kerr knows there is no need to do so. A little more emphasis on maintaining enough rest and focus for the playoffs is the logical and likely approach.

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But even with that new approach to the regular season, there’s no real way the LA Clippers (or anyone else) can surpass the Warriors.

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