Clippers are a nightmare first-round matchup for any team

Teams atop the West are likely fretting at the idea of facing the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. Tyronn Lue's men have won four in a row and are rounding into form at the right time, and more importantly, are at full strength for the first time this season.

Following Paul George's offseason departure, Los Angeles was expected to be a .500 team, with ESPN projecting them to win 42 games. Kawhi Leonard's uncertain injury status also factored into those projections. The two-time Finals MVP remained sidelined through the first half of the season with the same knee issue that caused him to miss the 2024 Paris Olympics and last year's playoffs. 

With 13 games left, the Clippers (39-30) are just one game out of the sixth seed. On Tuesday, they handed the mighty Cavaliers a 132-119 loss by producing a clinic on both ends of the floor. Leonard (33 points, four steals) turned back the clock with a vintage performance, James Harden (22 points, nine assists) was his usual steady self and Ivica Zubac (28 points, 20 rebounds) nearly out-rebounded the Cavaliers starting unit by himself. 

A well-constructed roster

The Clippers check every box of a title contender. In Leonard and Harden, they have stars who can take over games. In Zubac, they have an interior rebounding and defensive presence. In Lue, they have a championship-winning coach. In Norman Powell, they have an explosive No.3 offensive option. And in Bogdan Bogdanovic, they have a spark plug off the bench. They also have an X-factor in Ben Simmons, who is determined to prove he still belongs in the NBA.

Another reason to believe in the Clippers is their elite defense. Los Angeles ranks No. 3 in defensive rating, No. 4 in opponent points and No. 2 in opponent rebounds (42.1). With Big Zu manning the paint, they rarely give teams wiggle room, ranking No. 2 in second-chance points (12.6). These attributes are dangerous in the playoffs when the game slows down, and every possession counts. 

With the West so tightly bundled, it's anyone's guess how the playoff matchups will shake out. The Clippers could realistically face the Thunder, Rockets, Grizzlies, Lakers or Nuggets in the first round. It's unlikely any of those teams is hoping for a matchup with the Clippers. Former players Kendrick Perkins, Udonis Haslem and Kenyon Martin are all convinced the Clippers are the most dangerous team entering the playoffs.