Stephen A. thinks the CLIPPERS have the BEST CHANCE to take down defending Nuggets | NBA Countdown

Stephen A. thinks the CLIPPERS have the BEST CHANCE to take down defending Nuggets | NBA Countdown

Let’s check in on a western conference showdown between the Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Clippers we’re going to pick this one up gentlemen early in the first quarter here Paul George back in the lineup kawi Leonard ready to go Anthony Edwards watch here finds a cutting Jaden McDaniels throws it down

Strong no right up over him J look me and Bob was talking about this when it comes to like a guy that’s going to be on the all defensive team that’s Jay McDaniel but his offense is so underrated yeah watching this game we got to watch some of this game because

The other game The Warriors were actually just losing by a little bit so we were watching this game it was a close game but the Warriors did take the L they took the L so we watched this I I I learned some things watching this game in the half court where’s Minnesota

Going to go the C good defense that is nice but that is not you can’t rely on that goar behind the back I’ll give him this moment that was great go has a no look when you yeah if that’s where they’re going in the half court but but

Here’s the thing where are you going in the half court and this play I’m not sure why he didn’t take a three um I guess they couldn’t get one up that that’s the issue sure it looked like looking for it there instead ant throws it down but the

Question is then here why didn’t they foul pa George did a good job there he’s a smart Defender he wouldn’t let him get the three he let him get the layup which is fine the Clippers get the win 89 88 they actually became the first team to

Score fewer than 90 points this season and win amongst the scoring barrage we have seen this year so the West is actually far closer at the top of the conference take a look the Thunder virtually ahead of the Wolves for first place now and then if you look to the

Far right the nuggets are also in a tie for that top spot so you can never sleep on the defending champs see even we got a chance to see them up close yesterday in crypto.com Arena as you look at any of these teams who has the best chance

To challenge the defending champs the best chance to challenge the defending champ as far as I’m concerned would be the Clippers despite what I saw against the Lakers the other night where they just absolutely collapsed I would say the clippers because of their experience they won this game against the timber

Wolves today because of their experience we’re looking at the Denver Nuggets the worst thing that could have possibly happened to the Wolves was what we just saw because now you’re tired and you’re in for the for the second slot with Denver what if you got what if you lost

Homec court advantage to Denver as a number three as a they got to the number two seed and then it would be them against Timberwolves for example hypothetically that would not be a good look you don’t want that if you’re the Minnesota timberwol situation didn’t

Mean to cut you I think Denver ends up the one seed here they they haven’t lost since the allstar break they’ve been slowly lurking six and0 and they’re right there with they tied for whatever it is they’re right one game back of the thunder thunder they’re playing well too

But I think the Nuggets end up one but after that I think I agree with Stephen A the Clippers you know it’s hard to figure them out they got to have Paul George I did a game with them with the Kings they they lost that Laker game no

Paul George they need to be fully healthy as does all those teams but the Clippers talking a perk during one of the breaks they got three guys that can score in a halfcourt offense which is the playoffs the playoffs become a halfcourt game you know and and

Obviously the further you go in the playoffs it slows down the Clippers play real slow which works in the playoffs and I watch in that Minnesota game and Minnesota’s a very good team best defense in the league by far by far who’s going to score for Minnesota in

The half court I mean it’s Anthony Edwards but I don’t know that he’s at the stage where he can do it all the time the Clippers have three guys that can create for themselves in the half court and I think in the playoffs we’re going to see that Clippers have to stay

Healthy we’ve say that about them all the time I think this is their maybe last and best chance if they don’t do it this year in the playoffs they’re going to have to look around and say did this not work did this not work and that’s the big question for the CLI the

Minnesota Timberwolves they have a championship level defense right caliber defense but they don’t have a championship Cali offense right so that’s going to hurt them in the postseason but when I think about the Clippers again I’m going to go back to what I’ve been saying you know since

Before the allstar break they have zero flaws to be honest with you the only thing that can hurt them is health and if they just missing shots but when it comes down to them having been healthy they got great depth at the big position they got Wings guys that could score you

Talk about Kawai Paul George James Harden even Norman pow you could throw in there a guy that could go and get you buckets but this man has proven to us time and time again no matter what series or who is against whether it’s LeBron whether it’s Steph whoever is in

Front of him if he’s healthy you could bet your money on this man right here on both ends of the floor and that’s what I like about the Clippers is because Kawai actually have The Supporting Cast go against I didn’t see that the other night well gason turn not guaranteed we talking

About now okay can you acknowledge no Paul George matters no I I’m I’m very big on that I think that Paul George is key yeah and I don’t think that happens if Paul George is on the floor now I know who knows but that Laker LeBron

Paul George is one of the best defenders in in the league I I think he’s going to slow LeBron LeBron had 19 in the fourth in that game I wasn’t thinking I wasn’t talking about the I was just talking about Kawai okay you didn’t see him finish fair enough that’s all was you

Know they’re all flawed that’s the thing about this year that’s what’s going to make these playoffs so great is there I can’t keep track of you two guys what you I’m not even we’re not doing nothing I’m just curious I’m just gonna yeah I’m just going to sit back but but I think

It’s important to as we’re talking about how great Kawai is as we’re talking about how important he is I don’t know about you but watching Nicola yic control the game in so many different ways last night in a way that really no other player can to me Clippers Clippers

Nuggets they still have the best player on the floor and I’m not sure it’s that close how close is that Gap uh not close and it’s not a knock on any Kawhi Leonard like you said but but nicolea yic um I mean Stephen A we were joking

Would you have made the Warriors game better had you been on the floor we can acknowledge it would not have been better we can all go back there but I will say yic would make you look good joic could make all of us look good he

Is that good now who’s yic the second best player it’s Jamal muray Jamal Murray is a really good player but is he a great great great player is he an all NBA player yes is he okay so fine you say he is but you can’t tell me that

Joic has some unbelievable group around him he does not he’s got a really I like Aaron Gordon I I thinkwell Pop’s really underrated great pieces but it ain’t like it’s some star he’s great he’s good but is he good some of the other is he better than good he better than Dam lard

Is he better than lard better than some of these other guys that we’ve seen this brother perform in the playoffs reminiscent I think he’s really good my point is okay fine what is joic doing to support Murray though how much of Murray’s greatness is because of yic

Look at the onoff stuff look at the onoff stuff when Murray’s on without joic well one of them on the call without the other they the other they 500 team when they’re on the court together they’re like 33 and 11 right and I’m saying to you when it’s just

Murray and no yic it’s not the it’s not a knock on Jamal muray the same thing understand that but they’re the best doer on basketball for a reason and when Jamal Murray was Seline the year the years that jish did win MVPs it would they couldn’t win a championship because

They didn’t have Jamal Murray he was the deciding factor and when you think about the Clippers they have the guy to take him out you have bodies multiple bodies that you could throw at yic that’s why I’m saying the Clippers are actually the Denver Nugget’s biggest competitor I

Just think a needs to come back around to this idea that we are probably going to be back in Denver for no I’m not coming around to that I’m not coming that think you’re going to have to I’m holding our hope for the Clippers I’m holding our hope for [Applause] Dallas

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Stephen A. Smith, Bob Myers and Kendrick Perkins join me on NBA Countdown to react to the Los Angeles Clippers’ 89-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. They also discuss what team is most likely to successfully challenge the defending Denver Nuggets for the NBA Finals title.