NBA Playoffs 2014: LA Clippers vs Golden State Warriors Is Most Intense Match-Up! They Fought In Every Game, And The California Crown Is At Stake! Who Will Win?

The NBA Playoffs 2014 is in full swing right before Easter Sunday and the match-up to watch in terms of intensity is the Golden State Warriors taking on the LA Clippers.

All their match-ups in the regular season were hard-fought battles in terms of physicality, even the blowouts. There was always a fight breaking out even with the strict officiating. It also brought Blake Griffin's first-ever ejection.

One big letdown though, is the loss of Warriors' center Andrew Bogut. It's a shame because Golden State relies a lot on him, especially against the strong LA Clippers frontcourt. He was also the instigator of most of the fights.

Adding to the intrigue is Warriors' guard Klay Thompson calling Blake Griffin. Thompson stated on  "The Wheelhouse" on 95.7 The Game radio in San Francisco (transcribed by ESPN): "He flails his arm around so, you know, you might catch a random elbow or something that doesn't, you know, rub off too well on guys. He's kind of like a bull in a china shop, kind of out of control sometimes. And then you do just see him flop sometimes, like how can a guy that big and strong flop that much."

Blake Griffin tried to brush off the comments when he talked to ESPN: "This isn't my thing. I play basketball. I don't want to get into back and forth. I think we're ready to play, and it sounds like they are, too."

J.A. Adande of ESPN also has an intriguing subplot for the series: "But possibly the most intriguing series to start is that Los Angeles Clippers-Golden State Warriors matchup. It hurts that Andrew Bogut won't be a part of it, but given how explosive that Warriors backcourt is, don't you think there's some fear in the heart of Doc Rivers today? I mean, if he comes in, makes Blake Griffin an MVP candidate, has a record-breaking regular season for that franchise and still ends up losing in the first round, that would be devastating."

And finally, a fearless prediction from Amin Elhassan: As soon as Bogut went down, Golden State's playoff hopes went down with him, and Jackson hasn't shown the ability to take advantage of the lineup versatility that his roster offers him. Meanwhile, this Clippers team has turned into a buzzsaw, and they'll want to wrap this series up as quickly as possible in anticipation for a grueling second-round matchup with either the Oklahoma City Thunder or Memphis Grizzlies. Prediction: Clippers in five.

Update: Golden State Warriors beat LA Clippers in Game 1, 109-105. The Clippers had homecourt advantage.