The Athletic: NBA execs around the league expect the gap between Clippers and Lakers to be significant

OkcSinceSGA · Post #1 » by **OkcSinceSGA** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:17 pm

How much of a gap is there between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers when it comes to winning a title this season?

According to NBA executives polled by Ethan Strauss of The Athletic, a significant one in favor of the Clippers:

"In league circles, Lakers skepticism has burbled about for some time, before and after Anthony Davis awkwardly made his way to Los Angeles. Questions of fit and chemistry persist, and many are noting just how many games LeBron James has played up to this point. Like the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers are also lacking in perimeter defense, in a league where it seems to matter more than ever. Much as you would expect some 'It's LeBron' faith, that faith appears to be wavering after the last disastrous season. Even flanked with Davis, no one I spoke with believes LeBron and the Lakers are better than the upstart Clips."

One executive added of the gap between the teams: "There is a big gap in likelihood of winning the title. Not sure about regular season wins."

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Tor_Raps · Post #2 » by **Tor_Raps** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:21 pm

I actually think the Lakers are the better team but that will depend on whether Lebron regains his status as the League's best player. Will be a fun season regardless.

BoyzNTheHood · Post #3 » by **BoyzNTheHood** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:21 pm

Agreed. LeBron has to go full God mode for the Lakers to beat LAC in my opinion. A lot of people are sleeping on Utah as well.

GoCeltics123 · Post #4 » by **GoCeltics123** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:31 pm

Both LA teams are not going to benefit from the bloodbath that will be the Western Conference, but the Lakers' lack of depth is going to really hurt them. Same goes for teams like Houston and GS.

It's pretty amazing how the Clippers kept P-Bev, Harrell and Sweet Lou after all this. Imagine if they kept SGA...

iamworthy · Post #5 » by **iamworthy** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:41 pm

Are these the same execs that had Kevin love going to the Lakers the last 4 years?

NoDopeOnSundays · Post #6 » by **NoDopeOnSundays** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:42 pm

BoyzNTheHood wrote:Agreed. LeBron has to go full God mode for the Lakers to beat LAC in my opinion. A lot of people are sleeping on Utah as well.

Full god mode? Who on the Clippers is going to check AD, he's averaging 27ppg in the playoffs and almost 30 with Draymond guarding him in 2 series.

Yogatti · Post #7 » by **Yogatti** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:43 pm

GoCeltics123 wrote:Imagine if they kept SGA...

This one hurts alot

Yogatti · Post #8 » by **Yogatti** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:45 pm

NoDopeOnSundays wrote: almost 30 with Draymond guarding him in 2 series.

2015: Warriors swept the Pelicans

2018: Warriors beat the Pelicans 4-1.

Yeah AD sure put up a fight in both of those series :lol:

thebigbird · Post #9 » by **thebigbird** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:45 pm

Oh look, another Clippers thread.

GoCeltics123 · Post #10 » by **GoCeltics123** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:45 pm

Yogatti wrote:
GoCeltics123 wrote:Imagine if they kept SGA...

This one hurts alot

It's kinda like how the Celtics lost Al Jefferson to get KG/Ray. It really sucks but the wins will help you get over it, believe me :lol:

Post #11 » by **zimpy27** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:46 pm

How do NBA execs get these jobs?

The fit on the Lakers is better than the Clippers but the Clippers have more talent from 1 to 8. The Lakers defense will be better, the Clippers offense will be better. I would say Clippers are slight favorites because they are younger.

GoCeltics123 · Post #12 » by **GoCeltics123** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:47 pm

NoDopeOnSundays wrote:
BoyzNTheHood wrote:Agreed. LeBron has to go full God mode for the Lakers to beat LAC in my opinion. A lot of people are sleeping on Utah as well.

Full god mode? Who on the Clippers is going to check AD, he's averaging 27ppg in the playoffs and almost 30 with Draymond guarding him in 2 series.

Honestly Kawhi probably could, he shuts down everybody no matter the position :lol:

Also who on the Lakers guards PG? Kentavious Caldwell-brick?

JellosJigglin · Post #13 » by **JellosJigglin** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:47 pm

was waiting for the daily clipper update. Phew. Can finally stop f5'ing. Back to work.

Post #14 » by **Duffman100** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:49 pm

thebigbird wrote:Oh look, another Clippers thread.

Well I mean they are probably the best team in the league.

We could do an audit of the # of Kobe threads that dominated the GB during the Lakers run...

Post #15 » by **Cactus Jack** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:49 pm

OP is super hyped

alessandrux · Post #16 » by **alessandrux** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:50 pm

Sure, the Lakers depend on Lebron going into full 'God-mode' and they have to find a way to not burn him (and Davis) out in the regular season.
But if they are healthy ( abig if) and if Lebron elevates his game for the playoffs, I think they are built really decently (especially with what they've had to built this team).
This feels like a true Lebron team, and that is a team you can never truly rule out.

NoDopeOnSundays · Post #17 » by **NoDopeOnSundays** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:50 pm

Yogatti wrote:
NoDopeOnSundays wrote: almost 30 with Draymond guarding him in 2 series.

2015: Warriors swept the Pelicans

2018: Warriors beat the Pelicans 4-1.

Yeah AD sure put up a fight in both of those series

Do the Pelicans lose those series if he has LeBron on his team going for 27/7/7 while he's also going for 27? Silly point you're trying to make using team failure like that, especially since PG has been bounced in the first round the last two seasons.

NoDopeOnSundays · Post #18 » by **NoDopeOnSundays** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:52 pm

GoCeltics123 wrote:
NoDopeOnSundays wrote:
BoyzNTheHood wrote:Agreed. LeBron has to go full God mode for the Lakers to beat LAC in my opinion. A lot of people are sleeping on Utah as well.

Full god mode? Who on the Clippers is going to check AD, he's averaging 27ppg in the playoffs and almost 30 with Draymond guarding him in 2 series.

Honestly Kawhi probably could, he shuts down everybody no matter the position

Also who on the Lakers guards PG? Kentavious Caldwell-brick?

The only person that shuts down AD is Embiid, you're not stopping him with a 6'7 wing, he can actually shoot unlike Giannis.

iamworthy · Post #19 » by **iamworthy** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:54 pm

My day was going to be ruined because of this thread but I found some positive laker talk from Zach Lowe!

Read on Twitter

?s=21

OkcSinceSGA · Post #20 » by **OkcSinceSGA** » Mon Sep 23, 2019 4:54 pm

NoDopeOnSundays wrote:
GoCeltics123 wrote:
NoDopeOnSundays wrote:

Full god mode? Who on the Clippers is going to check AD, he's averaging 27ppg in the playoffs and almost 30 with Draymond guarding him in 2 series.

Honestly Kawhi probably could, he shuts down everybody no matter the position

Also who on the Lakers guards PG? Kentavious Caldwell-brick?

The only person that shuts down AD is Embiid, you're not stopping him with a 6'7 wing, he can actually shoot unlike Giannis.

Kawhi's wingspan is 7'4. Embiid's is 7'6. Closer than you think

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