"They're shorthanded" - Mark Jackson on why the Clippers are the easier matchup for the Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder were every bit as dominant as advertised in their series against the New Orleans Pelicans. They easily dispatched the No. 8 seed, ending the round with a sweep, which included a 32-point beatdown in Game 2.

Because OKC finished the first round quickly, the team has been rewarded with more days to rest or prepare for the conference semifinals. For now, though, it has to await the results of the Los Angeles Clippers-Dallas Mavericks battle. The Thunder probably don't have a preferred opponent, but retired point guard Mark Jackson thinks they should be rooting for the Clippers to advance.

"That's a great question," Jackson replied when asked which between L.A. and Dallas is a better matchup for Oklahoma City. "My answer is going to be based on, again, health this time of year. Because of the lack of health of their best player, Kawhi Leonard, I'm going to say the best matchup for them is Los Angeles Clippers because they're shorthanded."

Leonard's unfortunate season

It has been a whirlwind of a season for the two-time Finals MVP. He was able to shed away the injury-prone and load-management savant tags bestowed upon him in the previous years in the 2023-24 regular season.

For the first time since his healthy San Antonio Spurs days, Leonard made at least 68 appearances in the regular season. Consequently, he is eligible for the year-end awards, and the Clippers were able to contend for one of the top seeds in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, a knee injury sidelined him in the Clips' final eight regular-season contests.

Kawhi missed Games 1 and 4 against the Mavs and is in danger of sitting out some more. Interestingly, Jackson said before the playoffs that he was taking Dallas over L.A. because of the Leonard factor . But the Clippers actually won the meetings that the six-time All-Star didn't suit up in.

It remains to be seen if L.A. goes to the next round. However, the squad would probably need a healthy Leonard to have a chance against the Thunder.

OKC's defensive weapons

Jackson also mentioned that Oklahoma City has the defensive weapons needed to contain the Clippers' stars, including Kawhi, Paul George, and James Harden. The wing platoon of Jalen Williams, Luguentz Dort, and Cason Wallace showcased its destructive powers against the Pelicans, and unless the playoff lights get to them, the said players will likely maintain their performance in the next round/s.

The regular-season series between the Thunder and Clips ended in the former's favor 3-1. The lone victory L.A. managed to eke out was only made possible by Leonard's 32 points.

On the flip side, OKC also had a 3-1 record against Dallas in the regular season. So, the first-seeded Thunder have great chances of securing a conference finals berth regardless of who they face next.

Related: SGA on OKC becoming the youngest team to win a playoff series: "To figure it out and to stick with it the way we have is very impressive"