LAC: Kawhi, PG and the NBA's best supporting cast

This image is a derivative of Los Angeles Clippers by Michael Tipton (CC BY-SA 2.0)

*Stats and team records updated through to 20th November, 2019*

With the Clippers down by two points and only 31 seconds left on the clock, Paul George curled off a down screen, caught the ball, and rose up to bury the three. 

George, in just his third game of this NBA season, finished that 90-88 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder with 18 points on 7-14 shooting, seven rebounds and four assists. The fact that this game, winning shot and all, is the least impressive of his three in an LA Clippers uniform so far is what should have the rest of the NBA worried.

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In his three games since returning to the court after two shoulder surgeries, George has put up monster numbers including 37 points in a 49-point win over the Atlanta Hawks.

It's not just the numbers themselves that are impressive either. The way George is filling the basket and moving around the court suggests he's only just getting started and that this Clippers juggernaut might be even more dominant than first anticipated.

George has made sure to do a little bit of everything as he gets his legs under him. 

On the offensive end, he's curled off screens, ran the pick and roll, worked out of the post, pulled up in transition, and thrown his body into contact. Defensively, the Clippers have allowed 8.5 fewer points per 100 possessions with George on the floor than they have with him off it.

He's testing his body in limited minutes and is showing no signs of any lingering injury or ailment.

George already looks every bit like the guy that ended the 2018-19 NBA season third in MVP and DPOY voting.

Now, put the two-time and the current defending NBA Finals MVP beside him. 

The debate surrounding Kawhi Leonard and how he chooses to preserve his body has taken the gloss off what has been a strong start to the season for the 28-year old. He's quietly put up superior numbers to his 2018-19 season when he was regularly talked about as the best player in basketball.

Leonard has made things look easy at times. He picks and chooses when to insert himself into a game and has made a habit out of putting his foot down in the 4th quarter. Leonard leads the league in 4th quarter scoring with 11.6 points per game on 53.6% shooting.

Earlier this season with only nine points to his name and the Clippers down by eight going into the 4th quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers, Leonard exploded for 18 points in the quarter to lead LA to victory.

Already capable of turning the screws whenever he wants, and with George now on the floor beside him, Leonard can be even more selective with when he takes over a game. 

That's if one of the supporting cast doesn't chime in with a game-winning performance first, though.

In signing Leonard and George, the Clippers flew to the top of the championship favourites list.

However, their Staples Center flatmates put together fairly decent one-two punch of their own. The Houston Rockets did the same, the Philadelphia 76ers already had theirs, and you can put anybody with the Milwaukee Bucks beside Giannis Antetokounmpo and call them a duo the Greek Freak is that good.

The difference between the Clippers and those chasing them are the key role players that surround the superstars.

Lou Williams: He's a three-time Sixth Man of the Year award winner and is a heavy favourite to win a record-breaking fourth trophy this season. A demon on the offensive end with veteran moves that have seen him average 21.1 points per game despite only starting 13% of the time across his three seasons with the Clippers, Williams is the perfect complement to the other prominent guard in the rotation.

Patrick Beverley: Where the Clippers play their best defence with Williams off the floor (91.7 Defensive Rating), they're at their worst when Beverley sits (107.5 DefRtg). He's a bulldog, and if his hounding defence isn't enough to stop what is in front of him, Beverley's jaw does plenty of work to make it a mental battle. He can guard the best perimeter player on the opposing team every night and let Leonard and George - both phenomenal defenders themselves - use their energy to pile up points.

Montrezl Harrell: If Sweet Lou isn't winning the Sixth Man of the Year award, Montrezl Harrell probably will. He is a man on a mission at the moment and is putting himself in a position to sign a massive contract this summer. Averaging 18.9 points per game shooting 60.1% from the field while pulling down 7.4 rebounds, Harrell is having a career year. He's the spark plug that fires the team up if they're ever slowing down. The crowd thrives off his energy, and his teammates thrive off that of the crowd. A bit of a forgotten man with the more prominent names around him, Harrell will play a vital role in any Clippers success.

With the likes of Landry Shamet, Mo Harkless, JaMychal Green, Rodney McGruder, Patrick Patterson and Ivica Zubac all contributing to start the season, the Clippers run deep.

They have the roster to deal with injuries throughout the regular season, and as we've already seen, can play to a good enough standard that George and Leonard can cruise through to the playoffs.

Doc Rivers is a proven winner and one of the best coaches in the business. He's had Clipper teams in positions to compete for championships before only for injuries to end all hope.

Injuries might be the only hope for the rest of the NBA.

If the Clippers are healthy through to May and June, they'll be the ones holding the Larry O'Brien Trophy at the end of the season.

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