The battle of the 2 LA groups is all the time an intriguing storyline to comply with every season.
Whereas the LA Clippers might need moved out of a shared area with the LA Lakers, the 2 golf equipment nonetheless share a metropolis, and can proceed to be straight in contrast due to such.
Now, from a historic standpoint, the 2 can’t actually be in contrast on the identical degree. The Lakers have 17 championships of their historical past. The Clippers haven’t made an NBA Finals of their historical past.
Because it pertains to the present day comparion and on a season-by-season foundation, although, it’s a lot simpler to match how the 2 golf equipment are faring towards each other. This season, the reply as to which workforce is in a greater spot was answered by Paul Pierce, who delivered revealing grades for either side.
The Clippers misplaced Paul George final offseason with out getting something in return. There have been many questions as to how the workforce would possibly look this season. They’ve additionally solely had Kawhi Leonard on the hardwood for a restricted period of time as he’s coping with damage points.
All issues thought of, the Clippers are in a comparatively great spot. They’re 25-19 on the season whereas sitting at No. 6 within the Western Convention.
Based on Pierce’s workforce grades on “The Ticket & Reality,” the Clippers have been given an “A” grade for his or her season to this point.
“I bought the Clippers at an A. I didn’t count on them to be right here. Once you misplaced Paul George, I believed they gonna be coasting,” Pierce mentioned. “They not coasting. They forward of groups I believed could be up there, Dallas, Minnesota. Now you bought Kawhi again, they harmful ‘bro.”
Whereas the Clippers have exceeded expectations, the Lakers are 24-18 and are only one spot forward of the Clippers within the Western Convention because the No. 5 seed.
Having LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the hardwood, the Lakers have excessive expectations. These haven’t wavered regardless of some subpar leads to latest seasons. So, for the Lakers to solely be barely forward of the Clippers is seen as a unfavourable.
Evidently, that is mirrored in Pierce’s grade for the workforce, as he dished a “C’ for the Lakers’ season to this point, claiming they will’t make a transfer to make them not common.
“They like a C. They like common. After they play the younger groups they will’t management dribble penetration, thats an issue. They will’t guard the ball once they play the younger groups that’s an issue,” Pierce mentioned. “They bought to have a spectacular evening each evening out of LeBron at 40. On the finish of the evening they play nicely, however they simply can’t defend.
“I don’t know if there’s a transfer they will make, they only a middle-of-the-pack workforce.”
This distinction between the 2 groups is solely due to their expectations heading into the season. They’ve had related outcomes, however they’re graded otherwise due to the place folks thought they could have been.
It’s unfair to the Lakers, however that’s the fact of the state of affairs in being such a historic franchise.
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