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Los Angeles Lakers: How LA matches up against the best in the West

By Jason Reed

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 05: Anthony Davis (left) #3 sits next to LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 05, 2019 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 05: Anthony Davis (left) #3 sits next to LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 05, 2019 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers are the Lakers’ biggest threat to winning the NBA Title and if everything pans out how it should, these two teams very well could meet in the Western Conference Finals.

Pros:

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One of the biggest pros that the Lakers have is that their superstar duo is better and does not have as big of injury or playing time concerns that the Clippers have. However, for this, we are going to assume that both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are fully healthy.

The Lakers are significantly better in the frontcourt. Montrezl Harrell makes the conversation closer but the Lakers still take the cake. With Anthony Davis, JaVale McGee, Dwight Howard and Kyle Kuzma playing most of the time at the four and five, the Lakers will dominant there.

As good as Harrell is he cannot guard two guys at once. The Clippers can put Kawhi on Davis but there is going to be a significant size advantage and will create an even bigger mismatch.

That will leave a lot of pressure on the shoulders of former Laker, Ivica Zubac. As good as Zubac has looked at times, he is still very unproven in this league and having him be the team’s only traditional center is worrisome.

Cons:

The hardest part of matching up with the Clippers is their defense. While the Lakers can take advantage down low, the Clippers are going to shore everything else up.

The trio of Patrick Beverley, Leonard and George is going to be a tough ask to get by with Harrell also being an above-average defender as well.

The Clippers also have more immediate help off their bench in Lou Williams, who is the best bench player in the league, and likely Harrell.

Personally, I think the Lakers are deeper and more equipped from 8-11 in their rotation, but the Clippers definitely have the better “playoff-style” rotation, which will bode well for them in the playoffs.

Next. Ranking each Laker role player by importance. dark

Leonard has the experience that LeBron has and George has the hunger that Davis has, making them the biggest threat to the Los Angeles Lakers this year.

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