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Golden State Warriors: Top 5 toughest matchups for the 2019-2020 season

By James Carroll

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Stephen Curry #30 and Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors converse against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on December 3, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Stephen Curry #30 and Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors converse against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on December 3, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 24: (L-R) Head coach Doc Rivers, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and owner Steve Ballmer of the Los Angeles Clippers attend the Paul George and Kawhi Leonard introductory press conference at Green Meadows Recreation Center on July 24, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. 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. Golden State Warriors (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 24: (L-R) Head coach Doc Rivers, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and owner Steve Ballmer of the Los Angeles Clippers attend the Paul George and Kawhi Leonard introductory press conference at Green Meadows Recreation Center on July 24, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. 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. Golden State Warriors (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

#1: Los Angeles Clippers

There was plenty of speculation about where Kawhi Leonard would sign a long-term deal with this offseason. At the end of the day, he chose the Los Angeles Clippers over the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers.

But it wasn’t just because he liked the weather there.

What stunned the basketball world wasn’t that Leonard chose to sign with this Los Angeles Clippers — it was that Paul George would be headed there with them.

These are two of the best two-way players in basketball. Both have been downplayed for a variety of reasons but absolutely shouldn’t be downplayed in the slightest. They live up to the hype.

And what can’t be lost in all of this is how good the Clippers were last season prior to either of these additions. Yes, the team had to part ways with a couple of key players to land Paul George, but that can’t be a sticking point.

Last year’s Clippers team cruised to a 48-win season when the expectations were relatively low. When they ran into the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, they proved to be a challenging opponent by taking the Dubs to six games.

The defensive ability of this team will be unmatched. Both Leonard and George have the ability to elevate the defense of any team in the league. They can guard any position on the floor. And having both of them out there at the same time will be unfair.

Patrick Beverley, meanwhile, has proven to be one of the most infuriating perimeter defenders in the game. He’s the type of defender that’s tasked to take on the best player on the floor and get in their head.

For this next season, he’ll be all over Stephen Curry.

That matchup could cause one of two outcomes. On one hand, Beverley could get the best of Curry, who has had issues in the past thanks to specialist defenders like Matthew Dellavedova and Fred VanVleet.

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On the other hand, Curry could go into his all-too-entertaining spite mode where he decides that he can hit 40-footers with his eyes closed. If that’s what happens, then the Clippers might want to consider a double-team.

Coming off the bench will be Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell. Harrel may end up seeing time in late-game situations in place of Ivica Zubac if the Clippers opt to go slightly smaller. If they do, add one more capable defender onto the floor who could welcome switching.

Williams could be looking at his millionth Sixth Man of the Year Award next season, and he might end up feasting on some of the younger players coming off the bench for the Warriors. At this point, he’s surely licking his chops.

Landry Shamet is the perfect floor-spacer for this group that has gone from relative nobody to budding sniper thanks to the Tobias Harris trade. Maurice Harkless will also be helping off the bench.

Impressively, the Clippers have assembled a team that has both star power and pretty significant depth. The Warriors won’t get breaks to try and build leads or make comebacks.

During the regular season, it might be tough to get a true feel for how the Warriors and Clippers match up since it appears the Clippers will utilize the tactic of resting their stars for playoff games.

But by the end of the season, when the Warriors are at full-strength and the Clippers have no reason to rest anybody, we might finally see a changing of the tides in the on-and-off Warriors/Clippers rivalry.

Next. Golden State Warriors: Ideal scenarios for the team’s 2019 draft picks. dark

This will be the toughest matchup defensively for the Golden State Warriors, and, in crunch time, it might end up being one of the toughest offensive matchups as well.

Leave it to Jerry West to cement his “Mr. Clutch” moniker within the executive realm.

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