The 2019-20 season was vital for the LA Clippers and the LA Lakers as they lured three of the largest superstars within the NBA. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George maneuvered their method to the Clippers whereas Anthony Davis joined the Lakers.
The Battle of LA was imagined to change into a heated rivalry, besides that it has not turned out the way in which many anticipated. The Clippers haven’t misplaced to the Lakers in 9 straight regular-season video games. They haven’t conceded a sport to their Crypto.com Enviornment co-tenants since December 2020.
Following a pulsating win by the LA Clippers over the Charlotte Hornets, Skip Bayless promptly tweeted this:
“QUICK ASIDE: Kawhi, in his return at Charlotte, simply hit the clutch game-winner, an extended 2-point jumper, swished. Clippers are higher than the Lakers when Kawhi and Paul George are wholesome … which (I do know) hasn’t been that always.”
The LA Lakers, behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, gained the NBA championship in 2020. It was AD’s first season in LA and arguably the final time he was wholesome for nearly a whole yr. The purple and gold franchise are 81-41 when each James and Davis can be found.
The LA Clippers, however, have been all about potential and guarantees. They’ve all the time been derailed by accidents to both Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, typically each on the similar time. The farthest they’ve reached as a duo was in 2020-21 once they appeared within the Western Convention Finals.
Leonard’s damage within the 2021 Convention Finals towards the Phoenix Suns might have price the Clippers their first NBA Finals look.
When wholesome, they’ve confirmed to be a troublesome matchup for anybody. The Clippers personal a staggering 63-22 report when Leonard and George can be found. They’ve additionally been fairly adept in adjusting to life with out their oft-injured superstars.
With out Kawhi Leonard for the whole 2021-22 season and Paul George enjoying simply 31 video games, the Clippers nonetheless owned a greater report than the LA Lakers. Ty Lue’s staff even had the possibility to play within the play-in event however misplaced to the New Orleans Pelicans with out Covid-stricken George.
If delivering a championship constitutes “higher,” then the LA Lakers have already confirmed it. The Clippers have been nice when George and Leonard can play. They higher hope each can keep wholesome for the remainder of the season.
The LA Clippers and LA Lakers might be trending in the wrong way
A number of basketball analysts reminiscent of Charles Barkley and Kendrick Perkins picked the LA Clippers to win the championship this season. They’re at the moment sixth within the West regardless of getting solely six video games from Kawhi Leonard, together with final evening’s very good efficiency towards the Charlotte Hornets.
In the meantime, the LA Lakers had been imagined to miss the playoffs but once more this season. Their latest surge in type, nonetheless, might see them push for a postseason spot. Anthony Davis is lastly wholesome whereas LeBron James has managed to maintain Father Time at bay.
The Lakers, who had a 2-10 report final November 11, are actually 8-2 of their final 10 video games, mountaineering their win-loss slate to 10-12. And for the primary time in two seasons, they appear like a official playoff staff.
The LA Clippers, in the meantime, are nonetheless desperately hoping they are going to have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George wholesome. They’re an extremely troublesome staff to beat once they’re each obtainable, which has not often been the case in 4 years.