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Los Angeles Clippers’ playoff advantages over the Los Angeles Lakers

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 25: JaVale McGee #7 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers defend a shot by Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers in the second half of the game at Staples Center on December 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, 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 Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 25: JaVale McGee #7 and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers defend a shot by Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers in the second half of the game at Staples Center on December 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, 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 Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Clippers
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Clippers /

2. The Los Angeles Clippers have more talent outside the top two

Look, there is no denying that the Los Angeles Lakers have the better superstar duo. While you could make the case for Kawhi Leonard being the second-best player in the league behind Giannis Antetokoumpo, LeBron would be 2B to Kawhi’s 2A and Anthony Davis is one of the five best players in the league.

Paul George is a great player and he was an MVP finalist last season and at his best, he absolutely is a top-10 player in the league, he probably is not a top-five player. With the seemingly unstoppable LeBron-Davis pick and roll, it is clear that the Lakers have the advantage there.

Where the team does not have the advantage is everything else around the superstar duo. I will give the Lakers credit, and Clipper fans should as well, the Lakers have better depth than anyone expected this season and they definitely do not have a bench that is going to hinder them in any way.

However, the Clippers just have a next-level bench and one that, when the playoffs roll around and teams only play 7-8 guys, will look even better compared to the Lakers.

The Lakers have guys around LeBron and Anthony Davis that can shoot and defend and that is exactly what you need alongside LeBron. They do not have anyone that can create their own shot and don’t even have a clear-cut third scorer when the going gets tough.

Is it Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope? The answer to that question is unclear.

The Clippers, meanwhile, have one of the best interior and bench scorers in the league in Montrezl Harrell, a shot-creating guard who is underperforming this season but is still lethal off the bench in Lou Williams and now, a thee and D specialist in Marcus Morris and a secondary playmaker in Reggie Jackson to run the second unit offense.

That is not even including Landry Shamet, who at the very least can be a spot-up shooter. The Clippers have more versatility in the players around Kawhi and Paul George, which could tip them over the edge considering the third and final advantage.

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