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Who are the Warriors’ biggest threats in West?

By Carlos Murillo

May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) is defended by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the fourth quarter in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors won 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) is defended by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the fourth quarter in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors won 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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1. Los Angeles Clippers

Golden State Warriors
Feb 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (9) guards Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) in the first quarter of the game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

The Golden State Warriors will rekindle a rivalry with the Los Angeles Clippers.

It’s now or never for the Los Angeles Clippers.

They’ve failed to live up to expectations since they traded for Chris Paul in 2011. They’ve gotten a lot of hits on YouTube with their exciting “Lob City” magic, but it hasn’t translated to much success.

To be fair to Clippers, they have had a lot of misfortune. Both Paul and Blake Griffin have gone down with various injuries at different times over the last few years an even went down together in last year’s playoffs against the Portland Trailblazers.

But a lot of it is their own fault as well.

Doc Rivers the coach has a championship and a lot of winning seasons under his belt. Rivers the General Manager is the opposite. He likes to sign players that beat him even when they aren’t all that good. His best move as the GM of the Clippers was to lock himself inside DeAndre Jordan‘s house and force him to resign with Los Angeles.

The Clippers can’t get out of their own way–from free agency misses to giving teams bulletin board material to punching team employees, the team has been a mess.

Paul is one of the greatest point guards ever and he’s probably the most complete one, ranked second behind Curry. Griffin, when healthy, is extremely talented. He can handle the rock, shoot it, and finish with power. Jordan has become one of the league’s premier shot blockers and dunkers. Austin Rivers, who often gets made fun of, had a really impressive postseason performance after Paul went down.

Next: Dubs' best free agency moves

Now Griffin may be on the move, linked to trade rumors that would send him to the Boston Celtics. But if the Clippers decide not stick with him, for at least one more year, then they’ll have a solid shot.

The Clippers have talent and can capitalize on a Western Conference that should be wide open behind the Warriors. Their combination of athleticism and willingness to play an open floor game will surely allow them to challenge Golden State.

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