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How Paul George and Kawhi Leonard compare to other top duos in West

By Evan Desai

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MAY 11: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clipperslooks to pass during a game against the Toronto Raptors at Amalie Arena on May 11, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) 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.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MAY 11: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clipperslooks to pass during a game against the Toronto Raptors at Amalie Arena on May 11, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) 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. /
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All three of the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Phoenix Suns have duos that give them a shot to win the West. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George may be the top duo, and are certainly right in the thick of the conversation.

The world wants, and more so even needs a Clippers-Lakers Western Conference Finals. We want a best-of-seven series between the two squads for many reasons, but fans can finally see Kawhi Leonard and Paul George head-to-head against another star-studded duo across town in LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

It’s a matchup the NBA world hasn’t seen in the postseason, and a matchup that can’t get much better.

This year hasn’t been the easiest in trying to evaluate which is the top duo. Injuries have really taken their toll on both duos, but Kawhi and PG have looked a bit stronger this year.

Placing seven games better than the Lakers, the Clippers duo has been able to respond to not only their own injuries, but many other injuries to other starters that have come up. Even with AD back from injury, the Lake Show has won just three of 10 games. Once both AD and Bron returned, the team looked a little bit better, but are still just 2-4 since that time.

It’s tough to deny LeBron’s all-time status, and how well the duo played in the postseason last year. But this year, Kawhi and PG are averaging 48.6 points per game to Bron/AD’s 46.9. AD isn’t playing his most efficient basketball, shooting at a .498 clip as a big while shooting just 27.2% from behind the arc.

That’s the worst he’s shot since the 2015-16 season. He developed his three-point stroke that year, and that season, along with every season since, has been better from behind the arc than he is this year.

LeBron’s stats have been elite as always, scoring 25 points per game, averaging 7.9 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game, but the wins haven’t been coming in this crucial end-of-season stretch.

It’s hard to count out the Lakers duo due to how they looked last year, and James’ incredible track record in the playoffs. The Clips, however, also have two elite two-way players who look to build momentum in this final road trip and find a better first-round matchup than what the No. 7 seeded Lakers team could be facing. It’s time to get hot now.

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