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The Los Angeles Clippers, not the Lakers, are the league’s superior team

By Joey Linn

DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 26: Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers at American Airlines Center on November 26, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 26: Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers at American Airlines Center on November 26, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brandon Dill/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Clippers
(Photo by Brandon Dill/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Clippers /

Breaking down the Los Angeles Lakers:

1. Strength of schedule

The Lakers currently rank 27th in schedule strength, meaning their schedule has been determined to be the fourth easiest to this point in the season. Of their 15 wins, 11 have come against teams below .500, leaving only four against winning teams.

Now let’s grant the Lakers something, you have to play the teams that are in front of you. A very large part of being an elite team is beating the teams you should beat. The Lakers are doing that so far, and it has contributed to a 15-2 start. Impressive indeed, but how are they doing it?

2. Minutes distribution

Here is the biggest reason for the skepticism surrounding LAL’s hot start. As previously mentioned, their schedule has been one of the easiest in the entire NBA. With that being said, the wins haven’t come nearly as easy as they should have.

Of their last six wins, four have come by five points or less. These include a two-point victory over SAC, a five-point win and a three-point win in back to back games against OKC, and a slim one-point victory against Memphis.

A win is a win, and the margin of victory counts for nothing, but that isn’t the issue with these close games the Lakers have been playing. The area for concern is how much effort has been needed in order to pull them out.

Anthony Davis and LeBron James are the two new stars across the tunnel at Staples Center. Their ability cannot be questioned, but their availability is another story. With AD averaging just 66 games a season for his career, and LeBron entering his 17th season after playing just 55 games in year 16, health is indeed something to monitor for this superstar duo.

To this point, piling up November wins has served as much more of a priority for the Lakers than preserving LeBron and AD for the long grind that is an NBA season. LeBron James is 8th in the NBA in minutes per game at 35.2, and AD is right behind him at 34.8.

With these two stars amongst the league’s lead for minutes played, it is evident that the Lakers currently don’t feel confident enough in their ability to win games without riding LeBron and AD 35 minutes a night.

Back to the Los Angeles Clippers. After analyzing their best competitor for league’s best team, it would only be right if we used to same logic to critique the Clippers that we used to critique their hallway rivals. Let’s take a look.

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