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Five teams that could challenge the LA Clippers’ title aspirations

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers steps back on Nikola Jokic #15 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Staples Center on October 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers steps back on Nikola Jokic #15 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Staples Center on October 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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SAITAMA, JAPAN – OCTOBER 8: James Harden #13 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Houston Rockets chat against the Toronto Raptors as part of the 2019 NBA Japan Games at Super Saitama Arena on October 8, 2019, in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAITAMA, JAPAN – OCTOBER 8: James Harden #13 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Houston Rockets chat against the Toronto Raptors as part of the 2019 NBA Japan Games at Super Saitama Arena on October 8, 2019, in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

No. 5: Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets made a splash of their own over the summer, acquiring Russell Westbrook from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Chris Paul, who didn’t always mesh with James Harden.

Now, the two former teammates are back together in Houston, and they’re looking to do some damage. Both have been named League MVP at some point in their respective careers, and since they were last paired up in 2012, each has taken a monumental leap forward.

However, there are some questions about the effectiveness of their pairing, which ultimately may be what keeps them from winning a title.

The case for

Houston has two former MVPs on its roster in Harden and Westbrook. They’re two of the league’s most talented guards and it could be argued that both are among the league’s top-10 players right now.

Harden had one of the most dominant seasons we’ve seen in some time in 2018-2019, averaging 36.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists in just under 37 minutes per game. He scored at least 50 points on nine occasions and at least 60 on two, in addition to recording two 50-point triple-doubles — something that’s only been by three other players in NBA history.

One of those players is Westbrook, who averaged a triple-double for the third consecutive season in 2019. Near the end of the season, he made history by recording the second 20/20/20 game in league history and becoming the first to do it since 1968.

Houston is plenty talented outside of their star duo too. Eric Gordon, Clint Capela and P.J. Tucker round out an impressive top five, which is impressive considering how much salary Harden and Westbrook eat up.

Ivica Zubac struggled against Capela last season, and Patrick Beverley can only defend one of Harden and Westbrook. That means either Shamet will have an extremely difficult assignment, or the LA Clippers will have to move one of Kawhi Leonard or Paul George onto the other — which is a much better idea, in my opinion.

Sliding George over to the 2 and Leonard to the 3 (or vice versa) would allow the Clippers to start Maurice Harkless at the 4, which means LA would have four elite perimeter defenders in the same lineup, with Zubac being the exception. But if the Rockets want to let Capela be the man to beat the Clippers, then so be it.

The case against

The Rockets have the most potential to shoot themselves in the foot this NBA season, and it has to do with their top stars. Westbrook and Harden are two of the most ball-dominant guards in the league, and if they can’t agree on how to share it, things could get ugly.

This issue could, of course, be fixed by staggering the two, which is reportedly what Houston plans on doing. Still, though, there’s a sense around the league that this pairing may not live up to its lofty expectations.

Perhaps Houston’s most glaring issue when going up against the LA Clippers, though, will be how they plan to stop Leonard and George.

Tucker is good to guard one of the two, and he’ll at least be physical and make his mark. But Houston lacks a real wing stopper, and that’s going to be crucial when a majority of the Clippers’ offense will be coming from that position.

A mid-season trade to acquire a three-and-D wing seems like the best bet if the Rockets want to truly contend with LA this season. Otherwise, Leonard and George should be enough to overpower Houston’s star duo.

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