Clippers news: After acquiring Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in free agency, the Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as the favorites to win this season’s NBA title, according to the annual GM survey.
Which team will win the 2020 NBA Finals?
1. LA Clippers — 46%
2. Milwaukee Bucks — 36%
3. Los Angeles Lakers — 11%
Also receiving votes: Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers
Last year: Golden State – 87%
Giant media network ESPN also had their own survey, and similar to the GMs, they also have the Clippers as the 2019-20 NBA champions.
1. LA Clippers: 117 points (54.5% first-place votes)
2. Milwaukee Bucks: 85 points (36.4% first-place votes)
3. Philadelphia 76ers: 38 points (6.1% first-place votes)
4. Los Angeles Lakers: 29 points
5. Golden State Warriors: 15 points (3.0% first-place votes)
It’s no surprise that the Clippers have gained such recognition. Leonard has already led two franchises to NBA titles and he’s a two-time Finals MVP. Meanwhile, PG was one of the MVP candidates last season. LA has also retained most of last season’s 48-win team, mainly Lou Williams, Patrick Beverley, and Montrezl Harrell.
Last season, the Clippers were one of the most impressive teams in the league. They reached the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference and they took the fully loaded Golden State Warriors to six games in the first round. The addition of Leonard and George to this roster will just make them a more formidable team, especially on defense.
But winning the NBA title won’t be easy, as the Clippers will have to go through several contenders, particularly their Staples Center co-tenants, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Purple and Gold have also retooled this season, boasting a roster that will be led by four-time MVP LeBron James and All-NBA forward Anthony Davis.
Moreover, there’s the Houston Rockets, who will be parading two former NBA MVPs in James Harden and Russell Westbrook. The Denver Nuggets are also expected to compete for the championship, as they will be led by Nikola Jokic. The Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, and even the Dallas Mavericks could also hinder the Clippers from winning it all this season.
Will Leonard and George defy all the odds and bring the Clippers its first-ever championship? We’ll just have to wait and see.
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