The LA Lakers got soundly beaten by the Golden State Warriors on opening night, and now have to face their hometown rivals in the Clippers. Will Kawhi Leonard make a triumphant return for the Clippers after missing the 2021-22 season? Catch the game at 10 AM on October 21, Manila time.

Away: Los Angeles Clippers (0-0, 0-0 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Reggie Jackson (Day to Day)
  • SG: Paul George
  • SF: Kawhi Leonard
  • PF: Marcus Morris Sr.
  • C: Ivica Zubac

I honestly almost forgot that Kawhi Leonard didn’t play the entire 2021-22 season. His return will be a curious affair, because we need to see if his legs can hold up through 82 games. At his best, he’s still one of the world’s best two-way threats. 

Paul George will certainly be happy to have his running mate back, and it’ll be interesting to see how John Wall performs in what seems to be his 50th redemption tour. They’ve still got the rest of their solid pieces like Ivica Zubac, Marcus Morris Sr., Norman Powell, Terance Mann, Robert Covington, and Nicolas Batum, but it’ll definitely be about their superstar duo.

I feel like Kawhi and PG will be itching to pile on the pain for the Lakers, and they have the much more balanced team.

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Home: Los Angeles Lakers (0-1, 0-0 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG: Russell Westbrook
  • SG: Patrick Beverley
  • SF: Lonnie Walker
  • PF: LeBron James
  • C: Anthony Davis

I think it’s worth nothing that for all of the crap that Russell Westbrook gets, he had the better plus/minus for the Lakers at -6 compared to LeBron James (-10) and Anthony Davis (-21). Westbrook finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and three assists while shooting 7 of 12 from the field and he only took three attempts from beyond the arc.

James and Davis combined for 58 points, 20 rebounds and eight assists, but they had no answer to the much more fluid offense from the Warriors. Every time they got close, Steph Curry was waiting to hit them with a dagger, and as their opening night game wore on their lack of floor spacing and good shooters became even more glaring.

It’s hard to see how they’ll handle a better-balanced Clippers offense, especially of the Klaw is back.

PREDICTION:

Spread: The Clippers cover -5.5.

Over/Under: The Over 223.5 hits.

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