NBA Picks And Predictions: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers

The NBA restart is almost here! The Los Angeles Lakers are currently top of the Western Conference, and their first match of the reboot is against the LA Clippers. The Clippers are 2-1 up in the season series against their city rivals.

Here is a complete preview for the game including the odds and our pick.

The restart slogan “A Whole New Game’ is appropriate. This is pretty much a new season, and current rosters will dictate which teams have the upper hand. We need to keep in mind that the home-court advantage is gone.

Los Angeles Clippers.

Their top performers this season are Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Lou Williams. The La Clippers are entering the most crucial time of the season. With a long break, the Clippers are focusing on getting their form back to compete for the NBA Championship. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have looked excellent in their previous matches. 

There are a few worries for the Clippers as Lou Williams will not be available, and Patrick Beverley’s status is still unknown. They have added some impressive players in Joakim Noah and Marcus Morris but how they will lineup is a worry. The Clippers are one of the best two-way teams in the league due to the play style of their two stars Leonard and George. They rank third in overall offensive rating and fifth overall in the defensive rating. This incredible balance will cause issues for the L.A. Lakers.

LA Clippers Roster Notes.

Landry Shamet: Day-to-Day(Illness), he will likely be available for the match-up against Lakers.

Patrick Beverley: Day-to-Day(Personal), Doc Rivers, the Clippers head coach has said that he is a ‘maybe’ for the match against the Lakers.

Lou Williams: Day-to-Day(Quarantine), he will be under quarantine protocol after breaking NBA rules.

Los Angeles Lakers.

Their top performers this season are LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The LA Lakers open their return against their city rival and chief Western Conference rival, the LA Clippers. They are currently losing the season series 1-2, and this is the last match between them this season. It has been a tightly contested affair between the two sides, and the Lakers have been able to enact their signature style, but they have struggled to find efficiency and consistency at times this season. Their 3-point shooting can be a game-changer as they are averaging 11.7 made three-point field goals against their city rivals. They will have to go against the Clippers’ excellent defenders and talented bench scoring unit. After getting some much-needed late-season additions, the Lakers will certainly be sporting an unfamiliar lineup at times.

LA Lakers Roster Notes.

Rajon Rondo: OUT with a thumb injury, and he is expected to be out until September 1st. 

Avery Bradley: OUT as he has chosen not to participate in the NBA’s return due to concerns regarding COVID-19.

What’s At Stake?

A win for the LA Clippers will be huge as this would bring them within 4.5 games of the Lakers who are at the top of the Western Conference.

A win for the Lakers would give them a 6.5 game lead over the Clippers. The Lakers have dominated the Clippers in the all-time head-to-head series. The Lakers have won 103 of the 157 meetings between them.

Lakers Want to Dominate

This will be the Lakers’ last opportunity to defeat their city rival and bring the season series level. When the two teams met last time in March, the Lakers won the game, but the match was tightly contested. The only difference between the two sides is the number of star players present in the Lakers team. LeBron James continues to dazzle, and Anthony Davis has been a leader in the defensive line. The team also added some new players throughout the season, and they will be put to the test in this match.

Clippers Will Rely on Their Bench

Lou Williams is not available for the match while Patrick Beverley’s status is unknown. They will also miss Landry Shamet as he was tested positive for the virus. Doc Rivers will need to rely heavily on his bench due to these absences. In the spotlight is Montrezl Harrell. He is one of the best sixth men and is averaging 18.6 points per game. Despite their tremendous length in the paint, his blue-collar style has been beneficial. Against the Los Angeles Lakers, Harrell has averaged 18.3 points and 7.0 rebounds from the field.

Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers with the win