Before the 2018-19 season started, LA Clippers guard Patrick Beverley said the Clippers were the best team in Los Angeles.

Beverley's comments raised eyebrows since the Lakers had just signed superstar small forward LeBron James in free agency.

But the Chicago native and rugged defender knew exactly what he was talking about.

The Clippers clinched a playoff spot on Tuesday after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves. James and the Lakers, meanwhile, were eliminated from the playoffs last weekend.

Patrick Beverley, aware of how tough it is to make the postseason in the Western Conference, says it's a blessing to clinch a spot.

“Y’all don’t understand, man. It’s so hard to make the playoffs,” Beverley said, via Jovan Buha of The Athletic. “I was just telling Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), ‘It’s so hard to make the playoffs in the West.’ It’s a helluva conference, man, with great players. To be in the category with some of the teams that we’re in the category with is truly a blessing.”

The Clippers have zero All-Stars on the roster, yet they have 45 wins on the season. This could be Doc Rivers' best coaching job of his career.

Beverley is the heart and soul of this team.

The energy and passion he plays with is contagious.