LOS ANGELES — Thanks to superstar Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers have been considered one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference this season. The Los Angeles Lakers have not been great, due in large part to LeBron James and Anthony Davis' injuries. If you ask Los Angeles Clippers forward Marcus Morris, though, there isn't much of a difference in those two teams the Clippers have beaten in the last few weeks.

The Clippers have been playing most of their season without their best players, and they've still mustered up some incredible wins. Through 54 games, the Clippers have a 27-27 record, good for eighth in the Western Conference and not too far off from the sixth-seeded Denver Nuggets.

Eric Bledsoe is the only player to have played all 54 games for LA. Kawhi Leonard has missed all 54 games, while Paul George has missed 28 games. Additionally, Marcus Morris has missed 25 games, Nicolas Batum has missed 21, Isaiah Hartenstein has missed 14, and Luke Kennard has missed 10. Even Clippers Iron Man Ivica Zubac has missed six games this year.

On Jan. 21, the Clippers overcame a 24-point deficit against the Sixers in Philly, a loss that still stings weeks later as they pursue the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Fast forward to Thursday, when the Clippers defeated the Lakers for the 30th time in the last 37 meetings. The game was huge because it gave the Clippers a 2-0 series lead and ensured at least a tie in the head-to-head standings.

Following Thursday night's Battle of LA game, Clippers veteran Marcus Morris was the last player to speak to members of the media. Morris was asked about facing and beating teams like the Joel Embiid-led Sixers and Anthony Davis-led Lakers without their own stars in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. He responded in perfect Morris fashion.

“I mean, shit, both of them teams is pretty average from what I have seen, “Marcus Morris said postgame. “Like I don’t see them just being great teams. On any given night, it’s the NBA. We all NBA players and we all can put together something and come back. We go out there and work hard, down from the coaching staff to the 15 guys. Any given night we are going to challenge somebody and know we are going to play.”

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Anytime it has been brought up to him during a press conference, Morris has pushed back and said he'd be “all for” Kawhi Leonard taking his time to return. With Paul George now out as well, it might make more sense for both stars to take their time.

“I wouldn’t say it is tough [to carry on without Kawhi and PG]. I don’t think it is like an everyday type of thought. When them guys are ready to come back, we are going to welcome them back with open arms and hopefully they both can come back this year. But if not, we are going to keep pushing on, and we get ready to make a run and then next year when they get back, we do another push. I am excited for both of them, the rehab is going well for both of them. If we get them back, that is going to be great.”

The Clippers are still hopeful to get both Leonard and George back at some point this season. If all continues to go well, Leonard could return at some point in March (though Tyronn Lue made some interesting comments on Thursday about this), while an MRI scheduled for Feb. 24 will determine the rest-of-season outlook for Paul George.