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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 Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Clippers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Clippers /

The numbers:

When LeBron and AD are both on the floor, the Lakers have a 113.4 ORTG. That is a really good number, and would currently rank fourth in the NBA. When neither LeBron or AD is on the floor, that number drops to 94.4 ORTG which would be dead last in the NBA. There is no getting around the fact that the Lakers need those two out there if they are going to have a chance to win.

Now let’s grant the Lakers something. Once the playoffs start and the bench shortens, they won’t have to worry about many minutes without their two best players.

The problem, however, is that they’re playing that style of basketball in November. How sustainable is this over a seven-month season for a player who averages just 66 games a year and another who is in his 17th season?

Once again, if we are going to be critical of the Lakers in this particular area, we must hold the Clippers to the same standards. Let’s see how they’re doing on this front.

It is a very small sample size for the time spent with PG and Kawhi on the floor together, but that actually helps the argument for the Clippers in this particular case. In the 94 minutes, Kawhi and Paul George have logged together, LAC has posted a 105.4 offensive rating.

That isn’t great, and the eye test supports that. As expected, this duo is miles away from where they will be. They have played just four games together, and each has looked better than the last. When neither Kawhi nor PG has been out there for the Clippers, their offensive rating actually increases to 106.3 in that 345-minute sample size. That is a really good thing.

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It is so clear that amongst the contenders, the Clippers are the furthest away from where they will be. Kawhi Leonard has played just 13 games, at 31.8 minutes a night. Paul George has played just 7 games, at 29 minutes a night.

The pairing has played just four games together, yet here the team sits, currently just two wins behind the top-seeded Lakers who have taken a completely opposite approach to begin this season.

Kawhi and PG have hardly played together, Landry Shamet is still out, and the Clippers have yet to practice together as a full group. Despite all of that, they find themselves 13-5 overall, 11-2 when Kawhi plays, and undefeated when both Kawhi and PG play.

Neither Kawhi nor PG are top-50 in the league in minutes per game, and neither one of them are anywhere close to the level of play they can reach. When the playoffs roll around and the Clippers have a full group of well-rested players ready to log playoff level minutes, it is going to be scary.

Next. Evaluating the Dodgers' price for each star free agent. dark

It isn’t complicated, so don’t make it harder than it needs to be. The Los Angeles Clippers are indeed the NBA’s best team.

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