LA Clippers: 3 reasons they will win the 2020-21 NBA title
3. The LA Clippers have the best pair of two-way wings out there
Once upon a time, the NBA was ruled by centers. In a sport where the goal is to drop a ball through a ring suspended ten feet off the ground, being as naturally close to that rim as possible was important. The towering behemoths of yesteryear stand tribute to the need for a dominant center to win titles through the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
Michael Jordan began to change that, ruling the league as a guard with his number two also a wing. That change accelerated from there, as LeBron James and Stephen Curry led teams without that difference-making big man, instead shifting small with atypical centers in Chris Bosh and Draymond Green.
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The value of the 3-point arc and the size and speed of NBA stars means that two-way wings, able to compete with players like LeBron James, become a necessity. Teams without such a wing are going to struggle to win a title in the modern NBA. The Clippers are able to step right through that door with no one, but two elite wings who fit the modern blueprint for contention.
The Los Angeles Lakers have James, the Brooklyn Nets have Kevin Durant, but no team has two such players like the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard is a machine, historically one of the best wing defenders while doubling as one of its best isolation scorers. His mid-range jumper is inevitable, and he has already proven his game only elevates in the postseason.
Paul George has similar defensive chops, with the speed and elusiveness to stick with smaller guards in a complement to Leonard. Offensively he has become a high-volume sharpshooter from outside, which only further unlocks pathways for him to slither to the rim.
Leonard and George afford the Clippers maximum flexibility for roster construction. They can slide George and Leonard up the roster into a super-sized backcourt, or down into a floor-spacing frontcourt pairing. Their two-way impact allows the Clippers to add different pieces around them without the burden of finding perfect fits.
The presence of two-way wing players is a must in today’s NBA, and the Clippers bring more to the table than anyone else in this regard. Leonard and George give them the baseline they need to win a title.