Players aside, Doc Rivers can flat out-coach Frank Vogel. Not to put Frank Vogel down, but Rivers has shown he can win anywhere he goes with any level of talent he inherits.
And, as far as coachability goes, who would you rather be coaching Kawhi and George or LeBron and Davis? LeBron has a reputation as a "coach killer". Unless Kawhi and George get seriously injured, the Clips will make it at least to the Semi-finals of the Playoffs.
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As a Clippers fan I am thrilled they are putting together a roster that will be a top tier competitive for years to come. The fact the deal pushes the Lakers further back in the rear-view mirror is icing on the cake.
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The Clippers did not get Leonard and George by winning last season. The Clippers got them by giving up way too many 1st round draft picks for George after Leonard begged him to leave OKC to play in their home town LA. OKC should send Leonard a big Thank You card since he indirectly set up the Thunder for a great rebuild over the next 6 years. And if the Thunder can find another team stupid enough to take Westbrook's ridiculous contract for more picks, so much the better for OKC.
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Clips Overshadowing the Lakers? Not a chance in Hades. The Lakers are the King of the hill. Sure Leonard is a very fine player and George is a decent second fiddle. The Lakers still arguably have the best all around player in NBA history in James and a center in Davis that is the best at his position. The Clips are still just the Clippers.
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@NOTATE REDMOND Have you watched any basketball over the past five years? The Lakers have been a dysfunctional mess, while the Clippers have been a solid playoff team on the rise. Leonard is now the best player in the league, and George is a top ten player, not a "decent second fiddle."
The Clippers have depth, the Lakers none. The Clippers have the best defensive players in the league. Not a chance of the Clips overshadowing the Lakers? They're already doing it!
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@NOTATE REDMOND
With apologies to Neil Young, I'm singin' these words to LeBron ... he of the 2d-class Lakers:
"Old man, look at yourself, you were once [except for the humility] a lot like Kawhi is."
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1) Congrats to the Raptors for a fine team and championship.
2) Congrats to the Clippers for rebuilding into a competitive team last season.
3) LeBron is chasing something in his declining years, but I'm not sure it's a championship. The Lakers are a mess in progress and my guess it will get messier.
4) It was clear during the 2017/2018 season that Kawhi wanted to go to the Clippers. He got what he wanted all along.
Next season should be interesting.
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@Brad As a Raptors fan sorry to see Kawhi leave. But can't complain what he did for the Raptors. Busted his butt all year. Good luck with the Clips except when they play the Raps. Do you think Anthony Davis might want to reconsider?
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