Who's the Better Team in Los Angeles?

[LBC SoCal]

Speculation thread, but ah well it's the internet, so I'll contribute. I'm throwing stats out the window, the better team here is the one that meshes better together. Until the Lakers can show they can play well as a team, I have to take the Clippers. They did well last year pre-Kawhi, I have to give them the benefit of the doubt.

In regards to Lakers depth chart.. I'm going to get burned at the stake for this. But I'll preface it by saying I'm a bigger DeMarcus Cousins fan that possibly anybody, or at least most.

The things that scares me about that starting lineup is the pace. Maybe the other 4 are enough to make up for it, because that's quite another 4 with Rondo pushing the ball up the floor. But getting back on D to start the game is important for setting the tone and staying in front of the opponents' best first punch.

DMC coming off injury, I'd like to see him start the season by coming off the bench. For a few reasons. 1 is Javale can fly up and down the court, and if the team is clicking, he can be a nice role piece of that momentum that Rondo, AD, and LeBron can establish early. I think this would help the Lakers start every game without teams taking advantage of their athleticism right off that bat.

Maybe DMC comes into the season more fit than ever, and proves this point wrong. But until he's definitely 100% I don't think the Lakers need to put their most talented 5 out there to start the game. I think they should put the team out there that doesn't really have any weaknesses (getting back on D).

Demarcus off the bench causes a new set of problems for opponents. As their starters are probably just about to come out and then you put the talented and dominant DMC down low for the other team to figure out how to deal with. Most backup C's are going to get eaten up if their coach has the courage to put them in the game at that point. Whether it's LeBron or AD that sits for the Lakers, scoring options don't need to drop off when they exit the game. You can just add a new dimension to worry about by putting in Cousins.

As the season progresses and his body keeps mending, if it becomes 100% clear that he needs to be starting for the Lakers to put their best foot forward, everybody will be able to see it, and the adjustment can be made at that time. As for now, where he's not necessarily 100%, for the reason's listed above, plus to an extent maybe load management, I wouldn't mind seeing him coming off the bench while he continues to become the dominant Demarcus of old or even better.

I think he's mature enough at this point to understand the strengths of this format, even if he doesn't want to admit that he doesn't get up and down the court as well as McGee. He can continue to get his body right and then be a big part of what happens in the middle and the end of the game. As for the start, I'd like to see the Lakers not have a slow pace achilles heal at the beginning of every game.

Rooting for DMC either way. If he starts I'll still be excited to watch him with the first unit.

Good post, I agree here.

[NPZ]

Did you seriously just cry that the media wishes for the Lakers demise? The media, ESPN in particular, slurps up EVERYTHING Lakers and EVERYTHING Lebron. Give me a break with your pathetic one person pity party.

You don't pay much attention.

Ooooooooooooo, ONE SHOW.

The rest of the time they drool all over the Lakers and build them up no matter what they do. Your post implied that this is how all media covers the Lakers and treats the Lakers to quote "This is kinda what you get when you're a Laker fan. With such a storied franchise everybody hopes and prays for your demise.

Please, pay attention to what tsirgoj is saying.

[marcush]

The Kawhi’s will crush the other team.

[Black Mage]

You don't pay much attention.

Ooooooooooooo, ONE SHOW.

The rest of the time they drool all over the Lakers and build them up no matter what they do. Your post implied that this is how all media covers the Lakers and treats the Lakers to quote "This is kinda what you get when you're a Laker fan. With such a storied franchise everybody hopes and prays for your demise.

Please, pay attention to what tsirgoj is saying.

I did. Just like we say a guy who shoots 45% on just 50 attempts from 3 is too small a sample size to make a general proclamation, my argument is that ONE silly ESPN show that knocked your beloved Lakers b/c it omitted facts in a comparison to the Clippers is a tiny sample of the overwhelming rest of ESPN and other sports media coverage that praises the Lakers and always talks up how every player in the world just wants to go to LA.

[tsirigoj]

Ooooooooooooo, ONE SHOW.

The rest of the time they drool all over the Lakers and build them up no matter what they do. Your post implied that this is how all media covers the Lakers and treats the Lakers to quote "This is kinda what you get when you're a Laker fan. With such a storied franchise everybody hopes and prays for your demise.

Please, pay attention to what tsirgoj is saying.

I did. Just like we say a guy who shoots 45% on just 50 attempts from 3 is too small a sample size to make a general proclamation, my argument is that ONE silly ESPN show that knocked your beloved Lakers b/c it omitted facts in a comparison to the Clippers is a tiny sample of the overwhelming rest of ESPN and other sports media coverage that praises the Lakers and always talks up how every player in the world just wants to go to LA.

A couple of weeks ago every ESPN show was calling the Lakers dysfunctional and saying how no one was coming. Fast forward to today, Lakers have AD and a nice little squad and STILL many shows are pulling the anti-Pelinka dysfunctional card.

Would love to know what shows you're watching.

Of course, there are some reporters that are clearly biased, and its eyeroll worthy.

[JShuttlesworth]

I think the Lakers have done a nice job of filling out there roster with some solid players. If they can roll with Kuzma and Boogie coming off of the bench and adding Javale into the starting lineup I think they'll be a solid team. I think Danny Green is going to be a perfect player for them - Straight catch and shoot.

I have also been highly critical of the Lakers in past years - But I think they did a solid job getting Lebron last year, and now bringing in players that he can play with. Last year (despite Lakers fans making a lot of noise) the team just wasn't very good.

[bellabiyel]

Clippers, and I don't even think it is close.

The Lakers health is a mega concern, so is depth. The west is tough and I think it takes a toll on them very harshly.

Yea this isn't close. Like at all.It's like comparing the Rockets to the Mavericks simply becasue they are on the same division. I see nothing that Lakers do that better than the Clippers,however there's many things that Clippers far better in than the Lakers.Also I be surprised if the Clippers don't get the first seed and atleast make to the Conference finals if not finals,while I see Lakers being soildly out of the playoffs yet again with the roster they have.

oh another one

[Beethoven]

^uh season isn't over. No need to gloat over one win. We can still be eradicated by the clips in postseason.

[ProfessorJM]

Ok, we get it. Facto had horrible takes, but I think at this point the horse is long dead now.

[Homer38]

Once again,it's a bad comparison. The Clippers will be a Championship team,not only next season,but many seasons to come,while the Lakers probably won't even make the playoffs.The Clippers have a better and younger star players(both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are under 30 years old,while Lebron James is 34,turning 35 years old in December),they have way better coach,way better roster Depth,way better role players, will likely have way better team chemistry.The Lakers don't have any advantage in any area over the Clippers,but have many huge disadvantages in many important areas.If people are expecting the Lakers to win 50+ games and make it atleast to the second of the playoffs, they will be highly disappointed.

maybe not

[Homer38]

The Kawhi’s will crush the other team.

The clippers,yes

[Midw35t]

Why is this even a question?

Look where they are.

Lakers have two top 5 players. They are hunting for a championship.

Clippers have two top 10-15 players. They got sent out in the 2nd round.

[The_Hater]

This poll was close.

I still think the Clippers looked slightly better on paper, but of course the games aren’t played on paper.

And I find it funny how most of the criticisms about the Clips not having this or that etc. only surfaced after they lost game 7. Before that they were still a favourite for the title, they still had star power and they still had fantastic depth. They still have all of those strengths today, they just didn’t play well enough.

[LBJKB24MJ23]

This poll was close.

I still think the Clippers looked slightly better on paper, but of course the games aren’t played on paper.

And I find it funny how most of the criticisms about the Clips not having this or that etc. only surfaced after they lost game 7. Before that they were still a favourite for the title, they still had star power and they still had fantastic depth. They still have all of those strengths today, they just didn’t play well enough.

I think there was many unknowns in Lakers lands I.e. the role players.

everyone loves the Clippers role player because of their known quantity. Harrel and Lou and Beverly

[The_Hater]

This poll was close.

I still think the Clippers looked slightly better on paper, but of course the games aren’t played on paper.

And I find it funny how most of the criticisms about the Clips not having this or that etc. only surfaced after they lost game 7. Before that they were still a favourite for the title, they still had star power and they still had fantastic depth. They still have all of those strengths today, they just didn’t play well enough.

I think there was many unknowns in Lakers lands I.e. the role players.

everyone loves the Clippers role player because of their known quantity. Harrel and Lou and Beverly

Harrell was very very bad, the Clips got killed every minute he was on the floor, and Doc never cut his minutes. That one move by itself likely cost them the Denver series.

[LBJKB24MJ23]

This poll was close.

I still think the Clippers looked slightly better on paper, but of course the games aren’t played on paper.

And I find it funny how most of the criticisms about the Clips not having this or that etc. only surfaced after they lost game 7. Before that they were still a favourite for the title, they still had star power and they still had fantastic depth. They still have all of those strengths today, they just didn’t play well enough.

I think there was many unknowns in Lakers lands I.e. the role players.

everyone loves the Clippers role player because of their known quantity. Harrel and Lou and Beverly

Harrell was very very bad, the Clips got killed every minute he was on the floor, and Doc never cut his minutes. That one move by itself likely cost them the Denver series.

well after the fact.

[The Laker Kid]

I voted Clippers.

[narmerguy]

Why is this even a question?

Look where they are.

Lakers have two top 5 players. They are hunting for a championship.

Clippers have two top 10-15 players. They got sent out in the 2nd round.

AD becomes "Top 5" now, people were arguing that he was worse than PG. Kawhi was considered better than James, now people are backtracking.

Edit: Let the record show that when I made this post (i.e. after Clippers already lost and this had just got bumped) the poll was ~60:40 in favor of Clippers. Now people are coming in voting the Lakers for their revisionist history.

[Frank Dux]

Some historically awful takes in this thread.

[Optms]

You lost me at Rondo.

Has he won you back yet?