2019 NBA Playoffs: Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers preview

The Golden State Warriors begin their quest for a three-peat in a battle against the in-state Los Angeles Clippers in the 2019 NBA Playoffs.

In their first stop on the road to history, the Golden State Warriors find themselves matched up against a familiar opponent, the Los Angeles Clippers, in a duel of division foes less than 500 miles apart.

It hasn’t been the smoothest of journeys for the Warriors despite what their conference-leading 57-win season might suggest. An early-season shouting match between Draymond Green and Kevin Durant created irreversible tension. Steve Kerr has had to figure out how to keep his guys engaged throughout the season while simultaneously integrating prized free agent acquisition DeMarcus Cousins.

Meanwhile, just down the coast, while their in-house competition at Staples Center has struggled through a chaotic and at times toxic season, the Clippers managed to exceed everyone’s wildest expectations in 2018-19 with 48 wins and a trip to the postseason.

When L.A. traded its best player in Tobias Harris near the trade deadline, many assumed the Clippers had conceded the battle for the eighth and final playoff spot out West in an attempt to retain their first round pick. They would do nothing of the sort, going 18-9 following the blockbuster deal as a collection of hard-nosed and energetic players — not an All-Star among them —  led by one of the best head coaches in Doc Rivers.

Golden State managed to take three of the four meetings between these two postseason opponents, with the lone loss coming in the absence Stephen Curry the in the very overtime game KD and Draymond verbally went at each other on the sideline.

The Clippers aren’t scared of any opponent, but the Dubs are a problem come playoff time — one no team has been able to solve over the last two seasons since Durant came aboard.