The Golden State Warriors will host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night in a matchup of two 4-0 teams with championship aspirations. This has been a budding rivalry over the past few years and now that these are two of the best teams in the NBA their matchups this season should be a ton of fun.
So far the Clippers have faced a much easier schedule than the Warriors as they have only played one game against a team that was in the playoffs while the Warriors have played all four of their games against playoff teams from a year ago. Still though, the Clippers can only play who is on their schedule and they have gotten off to a nice start and will have their biggest test of this early season against Golden State.
Blake Griffin is off to a fantastic start to this season as he is averaging 29.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game with an amazing PER of 35.2. Griffin has been in the MVP conversation the past few years and it seems like he will be there again this year based on his first four games.
Chris Paul hasn't been as great as he usually is as he is averaging 15.3 points and 8.0 assists but he has been good enough and it seems like his broken finger isn't inhibiting his play too much. Early on Paul has struggled with turnovers as he is averaging three a game but he is one of the best ball control guys in the league and he will likely figure that out before too long.
Another player of note is DeAndre Jordan as he has gotten off to a nice start after re-signing with Los Angeles this offseason. Jordan is averaging 13.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game so far and shooting a whopping 82 percent from the floor. Jordan said he wanted to be a bigger part of the offense which hasn't happened yet (just 9.0 points per game) but he is still making a huge impact.
For the Warriors they came into this season with a chip on their shoulders despite being the reigning champions because people thought it was a fluke and they are proving that it was not. Golden State has won their first four games by an average margin of 25 points per game including a 50 point win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
Stephen Curry has also proved so far this season that his MVP season was no fluke as his numbers so far are other worldly. His PER of 50.3 is unheard of and he is averaging 37 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game so far.
Through the first four games this season Klay Thompson's numbers are a little bit down but that is understandable considering Curry's ridiculous numbers. Thompson is averaging 13.3 points per game and shooting 46 percent from the field and 33 percent from three so far.
Starting center Andrew Bogut has been sidelined since the season opening game with a concussion but he was at the morning shoot around for the Warriors and may return on Wednesday. Festus Ezeli has filled in for Bogut and has done so nicely as he is averaging almost two blocks per game. The Warriors though, would love to have Bogut and his big frame back to battle with Jordan on Wednesday.
The Clippers will look to make a statement on Wednesday night that they mean business in the Western Conference but it won't be easy as they have struggled at Oracle Arena recently. The Clippers have lost their last seven regular season games at Oracle and they have lost nine of ten games at Oracle, including playoffs, since they beat the Warriors on Christmas Day in 2011 which was Paul's first game with the Clippers.
Warriors projected starting lineup: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, Festus Ezeli
Clippers projected starting lineup: Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, Lance Stephenson, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
The game tips off at 10:30 Eastern time, 7:30 Pacific and to watch the live broadcast go here. For the Warriors radio broadcast head over here and for the Clippers broadcast go here.
