The NBA Playoffs are finally here, and the Western Conference has some of the most intriguing matchups in round one. What will shape the first round?
Golden State Warriors (1) vs Los Angeles Clippers (8)
Is pesky defense enough to hang with the Warriors?
The Clippers have played above and beyond their talent level all season. That was true before the trade deadline, and it’s been even more so since they cut ties with Tobias Harris. The one area where they do have some elite talent, though, is defense.
Patrick Beverley is both loved and loathed for his aggressive defense and tenacity on the ball. Montrezl Harrell has emerged this season as an impact player and energetic presence off the bench.
Tyrone Wallace, JaMychal Green, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Wilson Chandler are all versatile defenders with the size to guard multiple positions. Even the more scarcely used Clippers like Jonathan Motley, Sindarius Thornwell and Jerome Robinson possess a similar switch-ability.
While that pack mentality and versatility is enough against the league’s lesser teams, it’s hard to imagine it will slow down the Warriors. With so many elite scoring options on the floor any switch or lapse is likely to be punished.
The Clippers are at long odds to win this series regardless, but if they can steal even a game it will likely be down to their defensive grit.
Will Golden State flick the switch now or later?
The Warriors have been pacing themselves all season long. Even with slightly more adversity than in previous years and their lowest win total since 2014, they are the clear favourites to win the title.
The whole league knows they have another gear or two that they haven’t used yet, and they will likely win this series whether they go up a gear or not. But the difference between a sweep or an extra game may be how much they want to avoid the extra strain.
If Steve Kerr shortens his rotations and Golden State’s All-Stars ramp up their intensity, this could get very ugly very quickly. It feels unlikely that that will happen so early in the playoffs, though, so maybe the Clippers can give them a bit of a scare.