Best of the West
L.A. Clippers
Kawhi Leonard: 28 points per game
Paul George: 24 points per game
Pandemic P got paid. And like he did after his last payday in the summer of 2018, I expect him to ball out, whether or not Coach Ty Lue plays him “like Ray Allen or J.J. Redick.” This team should have a giant chip on their shoulders, leading to excellent efficient scoring seasons from both recent MVP candidates. I would not be surprised if both hit over 40 percent of their 3’s.
Portland Trail Blazers
Dame Lillard: 30 points per game
C.J. McCollum: 22 points per game
The rivalry. Dame has been dunking on PG all offseason to the point one of my friends texted me “Dame has so completely (expletive deleted) PG that he has absorbed all of his fans.” I know, because I am one of them. I still love the smoothness of PG’s game, but Dame’s one of the only players I genuinely root for.
Dame rules. And at 6-foot-1 he’s not going to be this great forever. But he will be this season.