Opening night is finally upon us, and to kick things off, we shall be treated to a matchup between two teams whose rivalry dates back to several decades. The Los Angeles Clippers will be hosting the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, and this contest will showcase two early-season favorites to go all the way this year.
The Clippers-Lakers matchup will also feature two teams that have gone through a significant face lift over the summer, as they enter the new campaign with revamped squads. This should be a very exciting contest, with neither side looking to let up in what is going to be the first of four matchups this season.
While many are taking the Lakers to draw first blood, we believe that the Clippers will be able to upset LeBron James and company, and come away with the opening night victory.
Kawhi the Underdog
One half of the Clippers' new dynamic duo will be out of action on Tuesday, with Paul George still without a firm timetable to return following a series of shoulder surgeries in the summer. However, the other half comes in the form of reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, who has proven in the past that he has what it takes to carry a team on his own broad shoulders.
Leonard has always been great in playing the underdog, and last season's historic title run with the Toronto Raptors is testament of the same. On Tuesday, he will once again have the underdog status, with LeBron, Anthony Davis, and the rest of the Lakers considered as the slight favorites to take the victory. We've all heard this story before, and if there's one man who can upset the odds, then surely, it's going to be Kawhi.
The Kuzma Factor
So much emphasis has been placed on the Lakers' own dynamic duo of LeBron and Davis, that there are some who may have overlooked the fact that L.A. will be missing the services of rising star Kyle Kuzma to start the season. The 24-year-old suffered a foot injury during the offseason, and according to previous reports, he is expected to miss his team's opener against the Clippers.
Last season, Kuzma averaged 18.7 points (on 45.6 percent shooting), 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.4 blocks, while also knocking down 1.8 three-pointers per ballgame on a 30.3-percent clip. He was the team's second-best scorer behind LeBron, and more of the same will be expected of the incoming third-year forward in 2019-20. The addition of Davis to the squad will definitely have an effect on Kuzma's usage rate, but he could very well prove to be the team's x-factor this season.
The Lakers are going to miss Kuzma on Tuesday more than most would expect.
Growing Pains
With both the Lakers and the Clippers fielding revamped rosters this season, there is no doubt that there will be some growing pains along the way. However, at this point, there's this nagging feeling in our gut that tells us that the Lakers will have a more difficult time transitioning as compared to their cross-town rivals. There is no shortage of drama in LeBron-led teams, and opening night might just be another example of the same.
The Lakers will be flexing their muscle in this one, and will undoubtedly put up a formidable fight on opening night. However, it looks like the Clippers might just be able to edge this one out, marking their team's first win in the new era of this rivalry.
Follow Us
Subscribe