There has been no love lost between the Golden State Warriors and the L.A. Clippers from the days of Lob City and the Chris Paul-Blake Griffin tandem that once popularized them. Forward Kevon Looney was told early on in his career, even as a rookie: “You don't lose to the Clippers” — a warning he's tried to heed true to this day, as the two face each other in the first round of the postseason.
When asked if the Clippers-Warriors could become a rivalry, Kevon Looney said that when he was a rookie his teammates always told him: “You don’t lose to the Clippers.”
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) April 24, 2019
The Clippers and Warriors may not be the rivalry they once were during this roster's come-up, but players have surely not forgotten the intensity in games of this caliber.
L.A. was actually the last Western Conference team to take the Warriors out of playoff contention after the duo of Paul and Griffin doled out a heartbreaking 126-121 loss in the first round of the 2014 playoffs.
Golden State has made the NBA Finals every year since, becoming a juggernaut in an already-strong conference. The Clippers had not run into the Warriors in the playoffs since five years ago, but have won only twice in their last 20 contests.
However the likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have not forgotten the rough beginnings and the bump on the road the Clippers represented as they made their way to prominence in a loaded Western Conference.
The fourth-year big man has been brilliant throughout this series, averaging 9.3 points on 74% shooting, along with a strong 4.5 rebounds in less than 20 minutes of action per game.
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