Real super villains do not need a loving fanbase to cheer their dastardly deeds on. Real super villains do not display their super villainy in balloons. Real super villains do not take one of the good guys and add them to their team. Real super villains do not give a damn about anything, they embrace their evil ways and thrive in the toxicity. 

The Los Angeles Clippers are real super villains. They destroy opponents hopes and dreams in the first quarter, they fight back against the games lawmakers, they say things like, "F free ice cream" and rejoice as their super villain friends make fools of the opposition.

The problem with anointing the Warriors as the super villains is that not enough people truly dislike them. Yes, they have 4 of the best 15 players in basketball including 3 of the best shooters of all time on one court, but that is not enough to produce evil. True evil is the product of years of disrespect. Years of "almosts", injuries, setbacks, mockery, and disbelief. This is the environment that evil grows. Not in the everlasting glow of championship appearances, MVP's, and League pass alerts.

The Warriors always fed off the adoration of their deafening fans. Each basket enhancing the volume in the arena making each bucket easier and easier. They need this, it is part of their greatness. The Clippers, on the other hand, are playing in a "We don't give a damn about any of you" sort of way that is alarmingly enticing to me. They look like they could be playing this good in an empty gym with no one watching. They are playing for themselves, they are playing to destroy their opponent, and they are succeeding.

The greatest part about the Clips right now is how quickly they are demolishing opponents. Continuity is the forgotten aspect of basketball and it gets so easily thrown away. They all have identical basketball brains and know exactly what each player is going to do. They must have cooked it up in some evil lab because the entire roster ebbs and flows as one. Check out the first two plays of their game against the Trailblazers.

Look at JJ and Luc set the down screen on Deandre Jordans man, freeing him for an easy dunk that Chris Paul in rhythm feeds to him.

Same play, but this time JJ fakes the down screen, peels off, Blake screens his man and he gets a wide open 3. These are the type of plays the Clips are running to perfection. In fact, JJ setting screens on to the big men is one of their common heinous strategies. Big men are not used to getting screened and JJ's technical efficiency at them makes them almost impossible to recover from. It also allows for something rather uncommon, that no doubt is boosting the morale in the locker room, they are running plays for Deandre Jordan. Both of the previous plays, the first "read' is to get DJ the ball down low.

The continuity factor is crucial because of the mind melt with the Clippers starters. Chris, Blake, Deandre, and JJ Redick all know exactly where to be on the floor. Where to pass the ball, when another player wants it, and when DJ needs a play run for him. It all looks so effortlessly and monstrously great. 

Even when plays like this don't work, as DJ misses a bunny, what happens after is almost more important. The ball keeps moving. As soon as Redick gets the rebound he finds the open man who then immediately returns the favor. This is what is different about the Clips this year, the ball is moving constantly. Whether it is the second unit or the starters. Everyone is working unselfishly for the common bad. 

Their finishing move in the first half right now is when their second unit comes in. They are scoring the 6th most PPG and not only maintaining leads, but sometimes extending them. Recently turned bad guy Mo Speights is shooting much better at the rim and it is NBA law that his teams must succeed, in the last two seasons combined he is 83-10. Raymond Felton is having a resurgence, he looks fast, active, and just as angry as everyone else. Jamal Crawford is still crossing up fools and somehow being allowed to ISO at the end of halves (WHY?). The entire bench unit is just slinging it around the court, knowing each others strengths and utilizing them.

The entire team just works together and makes sense. None of this matters to the masses though, too many will bemoan the fact that they need to show this in the playoffs. Completely disregarding the fact that they are the 4th ranked offense and 1st ranked defense. Too many will continue their disbelief. Even I this offseason was calling for a break up, saying they have tried this for years and it has never worked. I was only one tiny voice in the sea of hate that spawned their evil villain mastery. Watching their games not only made me realize how fun they are but also how for real.

And while we are thinking vile thoughts, the Warriors have plenty of issues. The lack of big men, the lack of continuity, the extreme injury risks. Nothing is for certain in this league. In most stories, evil does not win. But real life does not work like that and I will no longer lack belief because I have watched what they have done to their opponents. This may not change your mind about the Clippers but thats ok, like they said, they know they aren't liked and they don't care. They are not playing for you but do not be surprised if they usurp your wannabe super villains in the West