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Ranking the LA Clippers’ toughest Western Conference opponents

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 04: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles past JaMychal Green #4 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 113-105. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 04: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles past JaMychal Green #4 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 113-105. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 04: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles past JaMychal Green #4 of the LA Clippers during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The LA Clippers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 113-105. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 04: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles past JaMychal Green #4 of the LA Clippers during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The LA Clippers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 113-105. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

The LA Clippers are all but set up to be a contender in 2019-2020 after adding Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, but who will they be up against?

The LA Clippers have done it.

After a long year of recruiting Kawhi Leonard and building the perfect team for him to come join, the Clippers have achieved their goals, landing the two-way star on a four-year max. That alone would have been enough for the Clippers to contend for a title, but they didn’t stop there.

Going all-in on their efforts to obtain Leonard, the Clippers negotiated a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder that sent MVP and Defensive Player of the Year finalist Paul George to Los Angeles, forming arguably the strongest one-two punch in the league.

With help from guys like Patrick Beverley, Landry Shamet, Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell and the rest of the LA Clippers team, this squad is going to be a problem for every other team in the league, night in and night out. Opposing teams won’t be able to catch a break, either, as the Clippers have talented scorers in the starting rotation and the bench as well.

Of course, there are going to be teams that can stand up to them, especially in the crowded Western Conference. That’s what we’re here to discuss.

Regardless of who the Clippers are up against, they’ll be wearing a big target on their backs — much like the Golden State Warriors have ever since their dynasty began. Every team in the league is going to want a piece of LA, and the Clippers are going to have to deal with them all playing their hardest against them.

They may be title favorites right now, but a lot can change over the course of the NBA season. It’s still going to be an uphill battle. But with a roster full of hard-working dudes that refuse to quit (see: 31-point comeback), the Clippers are going to give their all right back to the rest of the league.

So which teams will be the ones that could stand in the way of their title hopes? We ranked the top five on the following slides:

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