The 2019-20 season was a significant one for the LA Clippers and LA Lakers as they attracted three of the biggest superstars in the NBA. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George maneuvered their way to the Clippers while Anthony Davis joined the Lakers.
The Battle of Los Angeles was supposed to become a heated rivalry, except it didn’t turn out the way many expected. The Clippers haven’t lost to the Lakers in nine straight regular-season games. They have not conceded a game to their Crypto.com Arena co-tenants since December 2020.
Following a heart-pounding LA Clippers win over the Charlotte Hornets, Skip Bayless was quick to tweet this:
“QUICK POINT: Kawhi, in his return to Charlotte, just landed the game-winning clincher, a long, whistling 2-point jumper. The Clippers are better than the Lakers when Kawhi and Paul George are healthy … which (I know) hasn’t been that often.”
The LA Lakers, behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, won the NBA championship in 2020. It was AD’s first season in Los Angeles and possibly the last time he was healthy for nearly an entire year. The purple and gold franchise is 81-41 when both James and Davis are available.
The LA Clippers, on the other hand, have focused on potential and promise. They’ve always been derailed by injuries to either Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, sometimes both at the same time. The furthest they got as a duo was in 2020-21 when they appeared in the Western Conference Finals.
When healthy, they have proven to be a tough matchup for anyone. The Clippers own a staggering 63-22 record when Leonard and George are available. They’ve also been quite adept at adjusting to life without their often-injured superstars.
Without Kawhi Leonard for the entire 2021-22 season and Paul George playing just 31 games, the Clippers still had a better record than the LA Lakers. Ty Lue’s team even had a chance to play in the entry tournament, but lost to the New Orleans Pelicans without George, affected by Covid.
If handing over a championship constitutes “better,” then the The LA Lakers have already shown it. The Clippers have been great when George and Leonard can play. It’s better that both of them can stay healthy for the rest of the season.
The LA Clippers and LA Lakers could be in the opposite direction
Various basketball analysts such as Charles Barkley and Kendrick Perkins chose the LA Clippers to win the championship this season. They are currently sixth in the West despite getting just six games from Kawhi Leonard, including last night’s terrific performance against the Charlotte Hornets.
Meanwhile, the LA Lakers were supposed to miss the playoffs once again this season. However, their recent rise in form could see them push for a postseason spot. Anthony Davis is finally healthy while Lebron James he has managed to keep Father Time at bay.
The Lakers, who were 2-10 on Nov. 11, are now 8-2 in their last 10 games, bringing their win-loss record to 10-12. And for the first time in two seasons, they look like a legitimate playoff team.
The LA Clippers, meanwhile, are still desperately hoping to have kawhi leonard and healthy Paul George. They’re an incredibly tough team to beat when both are available, which has rarely been the case in four years.
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