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The Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest concerns during the path to the Finals

By Jason Reed

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Golden State Warriors during an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on February 08, 2020 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Golden State Warriors during an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on February 08, 2020 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Clippers
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Clippers /

3. Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers

Laker fans may hate to admit it, but the Los Angeles Clippers are a real problem and absolutely are a team worth being concerned about. We are here talking about the concerns the Lakers have on their road to the NBA Finals and there is a legitimate chance that they don’t even get there.

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The Los Angeles Clippers are a really good basketball team. While the Lakers have the superstar advantage, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are right behind them. Leonard is one of the five best players in the league and often turns it up in the playoffs while George is the perfect complementary star.

The Clippers defense is stout, which is a problem for the Lakers, who are a defensive-heavy team. The Lakers are used to winning low-scoring games but that becomes a lot harder when the other team has an even better defense with betters scorers than the typical NBA team.

The fivesome of Patrick Beverley, George, Leonard, Marcus Morris and Montrezl Harrell that will likely close out games is one of the best all-around defensive units that the NBA has seen this century.

Morris is known as a LeBron stopper for his ability to limit the King in the playoffs and the team has size in Harrell to try and limit Davis. With Beverley and George handling the Lakers’ shooters off-ball, the Lakers are going to have to get very creative on the offensive end to get consistent, open looks.

Unless something drastic happens, the Lakers have to go through the Los Angeles Clippers just to get to the NBA Finals, let alone win it.

Next. The unsung heroes of the Lakers. dark

There are a lot of Laker fans who are still in denial that are writing off the third-place Clippers as a non-threat but it is not an accident that the Clippers are 2-0 against the Lakers this season.

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