“Clippers are higher than the Lakers when Kawhi and Paul George are wholesome”

The 2019-20 season was vital for the LA Clippers and the LA Lakers as they lured three of the most important 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 presupposed to turn out to be 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 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, a protracted 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 usually.”

The LA Lakers, behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, received 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, 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, typically each on the identical time. The farthest they’ve reached as a duo was in 2020-21 after they appeared within the Western Convention Finals.

Leonard’s damage within the 2021 Convention Finals towards the Phoenix Suns could have price the Clippers their first NBA Finals look.

When wholesome, they’ve confirmed to be a tricky matchup for anybody. The Clippers personal a staggering 63-22 document 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 taking part in simply 31 video games, the Clippers nonetheless owned a greater document than the LA Lakers. Ty Lue’s crew 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 could possibly be trending in the other way

A number of basketball analysts akin to Charles Barkley and Kendrick Perkins picked the LA Clippers to win the championship this season. They’re presently 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 have been presupposed to miss the playoffs but once more this season. Their latest surge in type, nevertheless, 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 document 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 legit playoff crew.

The LA Clippers, in the meantime, are nonetheless desperately hoping they’ll have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George wholesome. They’re an extremely tough crew to beat after they’re each obtainable, which has not often been the case in 4 years.