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Los Angeles Lakers have three advantages over the Los Angeles Clippers

By Jason Reed

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles as he leaves the court during a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on March 12, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Lakers defeated the Bulls 123-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles as he leaves the court during a game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on March 12, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Lakers defeated the Bulls 123-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. The Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar duo is superior

The upcoming NBA season is very refreshing for fans all around the league. For the last five years, the Golden State Warriors have been head and shoulders above the rest, and while they did not win in all five years, every year felt pointless as the Warriors would just win anyway.

Heck, even before that the league had the LeBron James Miami Heat and before that was the big three in Boston. For the first time since Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol won the NBA Championship, there is no distinct, heavy favorite that is heads and shoulders above the rest.

That is because the talent is spread around the league with all of the playoff teams having big twos instead of big three. But when it comes to these big twos, the Lakers absolutely have the best duo in the league.

The Lakers have two guys that are within the top-five in the league. LeBron James is a top-three player, at worst, in NBA history while Anthony Davis is a freak athlete who is an MVP and Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

Kawhi Leonard is also in that top-five but while Paul George had a fantastic 2019, he is not in that elite, franchise-centering category.

Leonard without George can win it all (as evident by the Toronto Raptors). If you replace Kawhi with George on that team they would not contend. If you replace Kawhi with LeBron or Davis then they absolutely would contend.

The Clippers do have the defense advantage with the superstar duo as LeBron is no longer an above-average defender. But when it comes to all-around talent, the Lakers have the edge.

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