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

[THE J0KER]

Clippers are still the best team in the league, but Lakers are obviously more close than it seems just 2-3 months ago. Just one single useful role-player veteran before trade-deadline (D-Rose/Iguodala/...) is enough for Lakers to match or even overtake Clippers!

[Don Ford]

Clippers are still the best team in the league, but Lakers are obviously more close than it seems just 2-3 months ago. Just one single useful role-player veteran before trade-deadline (D-Rose/Iguodala/...) is enough for Lakers to match or even overtake Clippers!

It's still fairly early in the season but Milwaukee is clearly the best team in the league right now.

[lakerz12]

Clippers are still the best team in the league, but Lakers are obviously more close than it seems just 2-3 months ago. Just one single useful role-player veteran before trade-deadline (D-Rose/Iguodala/...) is enough for Lakers to match or even overtake Clippers!

Still? Did they win a championship or something?

Or do you mean "on paper"?

[hoosierdaddy34]

as mentioned the Clippers look like a strong contender to beating the Lakers. however Lebron teams usually change strategy in the playoffs. I would imagine they eventually have their 5 out lineup against the Clippers. switching on the worse defender and going from their. they usually are big and should continue this in the regular season, as it works and it is practice for eventually facing Giannis. but for everyone else the 5 out lineup will be their death sentence. people forget the offensive rating the Cavs had in the Finals. it was historic.

Forget about contender, Clips look better than Lakers. They have an answer for any possible lineup.

They really don’t. The Clippers are not good inside, which was the point of what NBA Executives were saying in the Pincus article. Harrell is too small and not a good defender, and Zubac you can exploit in pick and roll or even ISO an athletic player on him all day.

And for the past month, the Clippers perimeter defense has been atrocious. Even in the win against the Lakers, they got a ton of open looks against the Clippers, just didn’t hit them. But it’s been a big problem, and giving up open looks to NBA players and hoping they miss won’t get you far in the playoffs.

Finally as I stated before, the Clippers desperately needs a real point guard. Just because they paid Patrick Beverley 12 million a year, does it mean he’s worth that. He has no real point guard skills, no feel for offense and is overrated defensively. They have one above league average passer on their team, PG, and a bunch of bad passers. When the playoffs slow down tempo, if they don’t find a creator who can set guys up then their entire offense is going to devolve into ISO hero ball. Which is very easy to guard for the top teams. It’s why get style of play has essentially gone away.

Clippers had problems in September that were obvious to anyone paying attention, those problems are especially glaring today. They have roster work to do, big time.

[Gooner]

as mentioned the Clippers look like a strong contender to beating the Lakers. however Lebron teams usually change strategy in the playoffs. I would imagine they eventually have their 5 out lineup against the Clippers. switching on the worse defender and going from their. they usually are big and should continue this in the regular season, as it works and it is practice for eventually facing Giannis. but for everyone else the 5 out lineup will be their death sentence. people forget the offensive rating the Cavs had in the Finals. it was historic.

Forget about contender, Clips look better than Lakers. They have an answer for any possible lineup.

They really don’t. The Clippers are not good inside, which was the point of what NBA Executives were saying in the Pincus article. Harrell is too small and not a good defender, and Zubac you can exploit in pick and roll or even ISO an athletic player on him all day.

And for the past month, the Clippers perimeter defense has been atrocious. Even in the win against the Lakers, they got a ton of open looks against the Clippers, just didn’t hit them. But it’s been a big problem, and giving up open looks to NBA players and hoping they miss won’t get you far in the playoffs.

Finally as I stated before, the Clippers desperately needs a real point guard. Just because they paid Patrick Beverley 12 million a year, does it mean he’s worth that. He has no real point guard skills, no feel for offense and is overrated defensively. They have one above league average passer on their team, PG, and a bunch of bad passers. When the playoffs slow down tempo, if they don’t find a creator who can set guys up then their entire offense is going to devolve into ISO hero ball. Which is very easy to guard for the top teams. It’s why get style of play has essentially gone away.

Clippers had problems in September that were obvious to anyone paying attention, those problems are especially glaring today. They have roster work to do, big time.

Clippers are coasting in many games this regular season. Zubac and Harrell are a really good combination of bigs. Bulls dynasty didn't have a "real" point guard, neither did Lakers with Kobe.

[norcocredo]

I still put the Clippers & Bucks above the Lakers. Clippers depth is going to be a big factor in the playoffs.

Regular season has proven to not be a good barometer.

[hoosierdaddy34]

Forget about contender, Clips look better than Lakers. They have an answer for any possible lineup.

They really don’t. The Clippers are not good inside, which was the point of what NBA Executives were saying in the Pincus article. Harrell is too small and not a good defender, and Zubac you can exploit in pick and roll or even ISO an athletic player on him all day.

And for the past month, the Clippers perimeter defense has been atrocious. Even in the win against the Lakers, they got a ton of open looks against the Clippers, just didn’t hit them. But it’s been a big problem, and giving up open looks to NBA players and hoping they miss won’t get you far in the playoffs.

Finally as I stated before, the Clippers desperately needs a real point guard. Just because they paid Patrick Beverley 12 million a year, does it mean he’s worth that. He has no real point guard skills, no feel for offense and is overrated defensively. They have one above league average passer on their team, PG, and a bunch of bad passers. When the playoffs slow down tempo, if they don’t find a creator who can set guys up then their entire offense is going to devolve into ISO hero ball. Which is very easy to guard for the top teams. It’s why get style of play has essentially gone away.

Clippers had problems in September that were obvious to anyone paying attention, those problems are especially glaring today. They have roster work to do, big time.

Clippers are coasting in many games this regular season. Zubac and Harrell are a really good combination of bigs. Bulls dynasty didn't have a "real" point guard, neither did Lakers with Kobe.

I think there is a lot of wishful thinking going on there. If we were talking about a title team that has shown an ability to flip a switch and overcome said issues, that would be one thing. But the Clippers have no history of that, and its quite an assumption to believe they are.

[Ballings7]

Clippers get Dedmon and that'll be a big get.

Dedmon also played with Kawhi for a season in San Antonio in 16-17 and they had some good chemistry.

However, people underrate Zubac's ability to protect the rim. This isn't as obvious in the regular season, but will be there more in the playoffs.

Hah imagine if they got Drummond? Goodnight. Won't happen but that'd be insane.

[Dino353]

The Bucks got it on lock this season.

[syntax]

...as does Paul George.

Paul George was going toe to toe against prime Lebron/Big 3 Heat in the ECFs. He's made the playoffs most of his career

AD's only been in the playoffs twice his entire career. One ended up getting swept. The other he only managed to win 1 playoff game before getting eliminated.

Is this the same Paul George who got owned by Joe Ingles?

[og15]

Clippers get Dedmon and that'll be a big get.

Dedmon also played with Kawhi for a season in San Antonio in 16-17 and they had some good chemistry.

However, people underrate Zubac's ability to protect the rim. This isn't as obvious in the regular season, but will be there more in the playoffs.

Hah imagine if they got Drummond? Goodnight. Won't happen but that'd be insane.

Dedmon is not going to be the difference between winning and not winning, don't even think he'd get many minutes alongside Harrell and Zubac or at the least not much play in the post-season.

[hoosierdaddy34]

Clippers get Dedmon and that'll be a big get.

Dedmon also played with Kawhi for a season in San Antonio in 16-17 and they had some good chemistry.

However, people underrate Zubac's ability to protect the rim. This isn't as obvious in the regular season, but will be there more in the playoffs.

Hah imagine if they got Drummond? Goodnight. Won't happen but that'd be insane.

The problem with Zubac is he is very easy to play off the floor. Put him in PNR and he just doesn’t have the foot speed to hang with quicker guards. Hell its really not difficult if you have a quicker big to just isolate him and attack him off the dribble... or good shooting big to pull him out where he isn’t really effective defensively.

[GSP]

Clippers are still the best team in the league, but Lakers are obviously more close than it seems just 2-3 months ago. Just one single useful role-player veteran before trade-deadline (D-Rose/Iguodala/...) is enough for Lakers to match or even overtake Clippers!

No theyre not. Lakers are better than both clearly

Clips have the advantage in the h2h so far but the first game is largely meaningless and they just kind of choked at the end of game 2. Davis/Lebron were both dinged up too

[GSP]

I still put the Clippers & Bucks above the Lakers. Clippers depth is going to be a big factor in the playoffs.

Regular season has proven to not be a good barometer.

Lakers have plenty of depth, ppl just dont value defense as much as scoring.

Kcp and Caruso are 2 of the best role players off the bench this season and extremely useful on both ends of the floor specially defensively. Danny Green, Dwight, Kuzma is a solid rotation to add to that. This is the best ball Dwight has played in years, arguably his best defensive effort post Orlando and hes a terror on the offensive glass and on lobs/rolling. Danny Green not much needs to be said. Hes been one of the very best role players in the league for a long time and is an alltime 3&d guard

And thats not even getting into Lakers have by far the best 1-2 punch in the league both in terms of talent and specially fit

No one is as complete as the Lakers theyre too dominant on both ends, have the star power, defense and good coaching

[SalmonsSuperfan]

clippers have been overrated from the start.
is lebron james a better basketball player than either kawhi leonard or paul george? yes
is anthony davis a better player than either one of them? also yes

[Slava]

There's no shortage of executives willing to talk **** about the Lakers, you just need to put a source label on them for any article you wish to write.

Just like if I wanted to write a critique on a dude, I'd go call his ex-wife and credit her as the source.

[sca]

Breaking news: NBA execs once again proved to be morons

[NCHeels2008]

Some of these takes really aged like fine wine

[hoosierdaddy34]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, both teams have flaws and will be active in the buyout season.

Lakers have perimeter defense issues. Also finding a starting 1 that can defend and play off LeBron/AD.

The Clippers aren’t very good inside. I don’t see Zubac, Harrell and Green getting it done. Also have only one average level passer for their position on the team, PG. They are a poor passing team at this point. I have a feeling they are going to be a heavy ISO team which becomes a lot easier to stop in the playoffs. They need a more traditional point guard that can be a playmaker for others and also hit a jumper.

So I expect both these teams to have new faces by March and this question will be a lot more clear at that time.

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Dear Kawhi, this was blatantly obvious a year ago as I said. If you need a real GM rather than the jokers you currently have, I’m available buddy. Tell Ballmer to call me.

[HanzGruber]

Guess they were right lul