At last, the NBA is back and the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers rivalry is booming once again.
During the latest iteration of the battle of Los Angeles, the Lakers managed to squeak by and win after LeBron James hit the game-winner on the second to the last play. Of course, Clippers fans have the fair argument of claiming that they weren't at full strength with the absence of Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell, but there's a reason why the Lakers have won the past two outings as they may just be built to beat the Clippers in the 2020 NBA Playoffs.
Here are three reasons why.
1. Statistics and experience
Lakeshow isn't just flashy. They have a lot to show for. The Lakers have a significant lead over the Clippers in the Western Conference standings, they are ranked second in Basketball-reference’s simple rating system with the Clippers at sixth, the Lakers are fourth in the league in offensive rating while the Clippers are sixth, and the Lakers are third in the NBA in defensive rating compared to the Clippers who come in sixth.
Meanwhile, playoff experience will also come in handy in a neck-to-neck series between those teams. The only players on the Clippers with such extensive experience are Kawhi Leonard and Joakim Noah. Take a quick glance at the Lakers squad, and you can see it’s full of proven winners. The Lakers have also had the liberty to mesh their lineups together with a lot of playing time compared to the Clippers who typically mix and match different players on any given night. Even their star pair of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George haven't spent a lot of time together on the court too.
2. Anthony Davis is a problem
Did you watch the last game? He managed to produce 34 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and went 16/17 from the free-throw line. With this, it's clear that the Clippers simply don't have anyone who can match up against the dominant big.
During the last game, the Lakers just fed Davis the ball and he went to work every time. The Clippers threw multiple defenders at him and doubled him frequently to try and combat his presence as well. However, this also meant that Davis had the freedom to find the open man to dish out an assist. Davis is poised to dominate a series with the Clippers as there is literally no one that can stop him.
3. LeBron James can still flip the switch
James just made a game-winner at year 17 after grabbing the rebound of his own miss. What he's doing is unprecedented and simply a testament to his greatness. On one end, he can make clutch baskets to seal the game, and on the other, he can lock down either Leonard or George when it matters most. James did exactly that in the last two possessions which shows that there's plenty left in the tank for the 35-year-old superstar. When it matters most, he can still flip the switch. Look to James to go absolutely berserk in the upcoming playoffs as he typically does for almost every single year of his career. He is not washed.
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