Los Angeles Lakers: Three bold predictions for DeMarcus Cousins in 2019

3. DeMarcus Cousins becomes the piece that pushes the Lakers over the Clippers

One of the most exciting storylines heading into the 2019 NBA season is that two Los Angeles teams are going to be battling for Western Conference supremacy and NBA supremacy. It is a great time to be an LA basketball fan (and website) as this is the first time in history that both teams are legitimate contenders.

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Everyone is previewing not only the regular season battles between these two teams but the potential to see the two sides meet up in the NBA Playoffs. Heck, Jon Soden wrote an excellent piece for us breaking down how the two teams could actually meet in the first round of the playoffs.

Regardless, the Lakers and Clippers are going to be intertwined all year long as they both carve their paths to the NBA Finals. That is not to say that the other teams in the West won’t be an issue, as the West is stacked, but it might just come down to the two LA teams.

And when it does, DeMarcus Cousins is going to prove to be the difference for the Lakers. If he plays like he is capable of, he will be the extra piece that the team needs to overcome the Clippers. If he fails, then the team fails with him.

He does not have to be the best player but having that dynamic at the center position, especially matched up against Ivica Zubac, is huge.

The Clippers have an elite defense but Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are going to be guarding LeBron and Davis. Patrick Beverley can’t guard Cousins and while Montrezl Harrell can, he does give up size to Cousins and won’t be the team’s primary center.

Cousins is that extra dynamic, that extra piece of the puzzle that the Lakers have that the Clippers don’t.

So whenever it does come down to it, remember to watch how Cousins is playing, because his play may very well decide the series.