The Cleveland Cavaliers are the defending champions, and the Golden State Warriors added Kevin Durant to an already loaded team, but Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul Pierce thinks his squad is also a superteam as the 2016-17 season approaches.
Pierce also pointed out the Clippers have "the best three-point shooter in the NBA" in J.J. Redick and the defending Sixth Man of the Year in Jamal Crawford.
"I mean why is this not a superteam?" he asked. "What defines superteam? When you look at those stats and you hear what I'm saying, this could very well easily be what's considered a superteam."
This isn't the first time Pierce made news this week. He announced on The Players' Tribune Monday that the 2016-17 campaign will be his last before retirement, so going out with a Larry O'Brien Trophy as part of a superteam would be a notable way to end his career.
Dougherty did note that Pierce recognized the Warriors, who won an NBA-record 73 games last season and reached the past two NBA Finals, are also a superteam. The future Hall of Fame candidate also acknowledged that Derrick Rose said the New York Knicks are on the list of superteams in the NBA as well.
"I don't know how many superteams are out there, but there's definitely three," Pierce said.
Dougherty pointed out Pierce was already part of a historical superteam when he was on the Boston Celtics. He, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen won the 2007-08 NBA title as a formidable threesome that beat LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference playoffs and Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.
As far as superteams this season, it is impossible to argue against the Warriors. Even Pierce recognized they belong in the discussion with the two-time defending MVP Stephen Curry, former MVP Durant, sharpshooting Klay Thompson and versatile leader Draymond Green.
Rose's Knicks have some work to do before making their way onto that list, although they have some talent on paper with the former MVP point guard playing alongside Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis, Joakim Noah and Courtney Lee.
Ideally, a superteam would advance past the Western Conference semifinals come playoff time, but that is something the Clippers have yet to accomplish throughout their franchise history. They have reached the postseason for five consecutive years after earning only four playoff berths from 1976 to 2011, but they continuously fall short against their formidable West foes in those pressure-packed series.
Los Angeles was somewhat snakebitten last season when Paul and Griffin each went down with injuries in the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers, but it still finished behind the Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder in the regular-season standings.
This year's Thunder team figures to take a step back after watching Durant bolt for the Warriors during the offseason, but the Clippers will still have to deal with Golden State and San Antonio.
If Pierce's squad eventually makes it past the likes of Curry, Durant, Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge in the postseason, it will justify his lofty assessment of his team.
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