No. 1 team in the Pacific Division: The LA Clippers
Here’s the thing about the LA Clippers.
They had so much room to grow after last year.
Paul George took noticeable strides in who he was as a playoff performer, Ty Lue established himself as arguably the best coach in the NBA in just his first year with the team, Reggie Jackson already began taking a jump in his progress during the postseason, and Terance Mann proved that he is a developing star in this league.
Of course, we don’t know that each of these players are going to continue to step on up, as momentum from one year doesn’t always transfer to the next. When the Clippers have a coach as good as Lue, though, I can’t help but expect the team to continue to make those massive strides.
It’s not that the Suns don’t have this type of coach, as they obviously do (and maybe a better one). But the team that Lue has to work with is deeper, and the superstar he has to work with isn’t old yet. Even the star that he will have as his number one until Leonard gets back (George) is still much younger than CP3.
This team is longer and has more playoff experience, with a championship head coach who only seems to be getting better.
That’s a formula for being the best team in this division when it’s all said and done.