The 2019-20 season was important 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 alleged to develop into a heated rivalry, besides that it has not turned out the best way many anticipated. The Clippers haven’t misplaced to the Lakers in 9 straight regular-season video games. They haven’t conceded a recreation 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 complete 12 months. The purple and gold franchise are 81-41 when each James and Davis can be found.
The LA Clippers, then again, have been all about potential and guarantees. They’ve at all times been derailed by accidents to both Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, generally each on the identical 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 value 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 your entire 2021-22 season and Paul George taking part in simply 31 video games, the Clippers nonetheless owned a greater report than the LA Lakers. Ty Lue’s group even had the prospect 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 comparable to Charles Barkley and Kendrick Perkins picked the LA Clippers to win the championship this season. They’re at present sixth within the West regardless of getting solely six video games from Kawhi Leonard, together with final night time’s very good efficiency towards the Charlotte Hornets.
In the meantime, the LA Lakers have been alleged to miss the playoffs but once more this season. Their current surge in kind, 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, at the moment are 8-2 of their final 10 video games, mountain climbing their win-loss slate to 10-12. And for the primary time in two seasons, they appear like a professional playoff group.
The LA Clippers, in the meantime, are nonetheless desperately hoping they may have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George wholesome. They’re an extremely troublesome group to beat once they’re each accessible, which has hardly ever been the case in 4 years.
