LA Sports Hub
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

3. The Los Angeles Lakers are deeper

The rotations for the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers will succeed in different circumstances. In the Lakers case, the roster is built to withstand an 82-game season as the team has a deep enough roster to legitimately run a 12-man rotation if Frank Vogel really wanted to.

More from LA Sports Hub

Of course, there is a hierarchy of players, but the Lakers’ 12 man is much better than the average NBA team’s 12th man. That is important in the regular season. However, in the playoffs, that rotation usually goes down to eight.

That is where the Los Angeles Clippers will thrive. The Clippers have a better seven-man rotation than the Lakers, but past that, the Lakers are significantly better than the Clippers. The one main difference that makes the Clippers better when you reduce the number is Lou Williams, who is the best bench player in the league.

The Clippers should be fine in the playoffs with this roster but the problem is getting there. No, there is no denying that the Clippers are a playoff team, but the lack of quality depth players can be a bit concerning.

The fewer quality depth players that a team has means more minutes that the primary players have to play. That, mixed with the concerns that we outlined on the last slide, could be a disaster for the Clippers once they reach the playoffs.

It is not a guarantee that it will bite the Clippers. However, the Lakers’ front office has set a team up in a way that makes the road to get there much easier.

dark. Next. Lakers that will set a new career-high in 2019

It might not be the most fun thing to talk about the 12th man on the team when it comes to a team being better, but trust me, it does make a huge difference.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers