Klay Thompson/Photo courtesy of Golden State Warriors

Golden State’s Klay Thompson has responded to a recent quote by Doc Rivers, who, when assessing the toughness of the Western Conference, told Grantland.com, “You need luck in the West. Look at Golden State. They didn’t have to play us or the Spurs.”

That’s because the Clippers blew a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals this past season, losing in seven games to Houston. Had the Clippers taken care of business, they would have played the eventual-champion Warriors in the conference finals. As for the Spurs, they were beaten by the Clippers in the first round.

Thompson on Friday pretty much pointed all that out to a reporter from ESPN.com.

“That sounds pretty bitter to me,” said Thompson, who was just getting started. “If we got lucky, look at our record against them last year. I’m pretty sure we smacked them.”

Golden State had a 3-1 record against the Clippers during the regular season. Thompson wasn’t done.

“Didn’t they lose to the Rockets?” he said. “So that just makes me laugh. That’s funny. Weren’t they up 3-1, too? Tell them I said that, too.”

You have to love this less than three weeks before the regular season begins. If these teams aren’t careful, this is going to become one terrific rivalry.

By the way, the Clippers play Nov. 4 at Golden State. The Clippers will play host to the Warriors on Nov. 19 at Staples Center.