Kevin Durant Picks Clippers to Win NBA Championship
Kevin Durant has the NBA championship going back to Los Angeles. But while the Lakers are the top-seeded team in the Western Conference, Durant has the Clippers winning it all for the first time in franchise history.
Durant discussed his championship favorite on an episode of the 'Play for Keeps' podcast (H/T Tomer Azarly). Even though the Lakers clearly have what it takes, he thinks the Clippers just have more. Durant foresees the Finals ending with the Clippers beating the Bucks in seven games.
"If I could choose, I would go Clippers-Bucks for the championship and I’ll go with the Clippers," Durant said.
For the two-time NBA champion, one of the biggest keys to success is the wing position. In his mind, whichever team has the best wings, typically wins the NBA championship. The biggest issue, though, is their lack of continuity.
“They’re just so deep," Durant said. "I think once they figure out — because it feels like they haven’t had their team together at once yet for a long period of time — that talent is just undeniable to me when you have PG and Kawhi at the wings. That’s what you need to win is wings. You got those two at the wings arguably the top three, top four at the wing position on one team. And then you have the two best bench scorers. Well not the two best, but the best combo, they perfectly fit with the big and guard.
It's not just the wing pieces, though. The Clippers have the best bench in the NBA, and other quality pieces. Durant believes that depth is what gives the Clippers the edge.
“Then you have moving parts like a Marcus Morris, who started on other teams, Reggie Jackson, who was a starter, Landry Shamet, who is a sniper, JaMychal Green, Joakim Noah, he’s giving you solid minutes," Durant said. "They can go 11-deep. Zubac, too. They’ve got like 11 players that actually can play and you wouldn’t mind putting on the court and playing."
It can be tough to decide between the top three contenders for the title this season, so Durant deserves props for going out on a bit of a limb here, especially since the team he plays for is still in contention. Both the Lakers and Bucks are having historic years, and the Clippers boast their greatest team in franchise history. The only thing left to see is if Durant's prediction comes true.
