'Scariest team in the West': Why Clippers should be conference favorites

Since acquiring James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers in late October, the Los Angeles Clippers have surged, overcoming an initial 0-5 adjustment period as they adapted to Harden's on-the-ball presence. 

In their past 34 games, Los Angeles is 27-7, a .794 winning percentage.

These Clippers (30-14), perhaps the best team in franchise history, have a strong chance to carve a path through the competitive Western Conference. 

Third in the West heading into Monday's game at Cleveland, Los Angeles is hot on the heels of the Minnesota Timberwolves (32-14) and Oklahoma City Thunder (32-14).

Per Cleaning The Glass, Los Angeles boasts the No. 2 offense (121.6 points per 100 possessions) and No. 8 defense (113.3 points allowed per 100 possessions) and is No. 3 in net rating (+8.6), making it the only Western Conference team to rank in the top three in both offense and net rating.

"The scariest team in the West is the Los Angeles Clippers," former NBA player Charles Barkley said Jan. 6 on TNT. "Kawhi Leonard is amazing. If he's healthy, he's one of the five best basketball players in the world."

Since Barkley's statement, the Clippers have played even better, securing wins against Phoenix, Boston and Oklahoma City.

Los Angeles' offense, featuring Harden, Paul George and Leonard, is arguably unmatched in the West. Only Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal of the Suns (26-20) can match that trio. 

However, the Clippers' defensive capabilities and depth overshadow Phoenix, which ranks No. 15 in defense (115.9 points allowed per 100 possessions).

The Thunder have arrived, but they lack playoff experience. And that matters, especially when matched against a team that has as much postseason experience as the Clippers. Look at what happened last season to the Sacramento Kings, who matched up with the Golden State Warriors in the first round last season and lost in seven games.

With just 13 playoff games, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is OKC's most experienced playoff performer. Contrast that with the seasoned playoff veterans of the Clippers — Harden, George, Leonard and Russell Westbook have played in a combined 521 playoff games.

Questions also linger regarding the Timberwolves' playoff viability. Despite being the No. 1-ranked defense (109.4 points allowed per 100 possessions), largely due to Rudy Gobert's rim protection, doubts remain about his effectiveness in the playoffs, particularly his pick-and-roll coverage.

"Rudy Gobert can be Defensive Player of the Year in the [expletive] regular season," former NBA player Udonis Haslam said recently on "The OGs" podcast. "And be a defensive liability in the playoffs."

The Denver Nuggets (32-15) and superstar Nikola Jokić pose the biggest threat to the Clippers, but they're not the powerhouse they were last season, falling outside the top seven in all three major categories (offense, defense and net). 

Furthermore, since 2011, only two teams have repeated as champions: the Golden State Warriors (2017-18) and Miami Heat (2012-13). 

With the stars aligning for the Clippers this season, their biggest challenge is staying healthy. If they can manage that, considering their team's injury history, they should emerge as the favorites to win the Western Conference.