Disney World is where dreams come to life and those who’ve been fantasizing about JR Smith and Dion Waiters being on the same team will see that finally happen when the Los Angeles Lakers take on their rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers in a showdown between Western Conference powers in Orlando on July 31 (9am Manila Time).
HOME TEAM: Los Angeles Lakers (49-14, 23-8 at home)
The Lakers simply just want to get back in the win column, as it’s been a while since they tasted a victory, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were upset by the Brooklyn Nets at home last March, just before the season got suspended.
But prior to that, they stitched together four wins in a row, a stretch that includes the Lakers’ 112-103 road win over the Clippers on March 8. Anthony Davis led the Lakers in that game with 30 points, while four-time league MVP had a near triple-double stat line of 28 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Avery Bradley also came out of nowhere and churned out 24 points on the strength of his 6-of-12 shooting from behind the arc.
The Lakers won’t have the services of veteran point guard Rajon Rondo, who recently fractured his right hand, an injury that’s estimated to need 6-8 weeks to heal. The Lakers are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games.
ROAD TEAM: Los Angeles Clippers (44-20, 19-13 on the road)
Save for their aforementioned loss to the Lakers last March, the Clippers had done nothing but dominate in several games just before the season got suspended.
They have won seven of their last eight games and covered the spread in six of those outings.
The duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George is the Clippers’ top antidote to the Lakers’ superstar tandem of James and Davis. In three games against the Lakers this season, Leonard has averaged 30.7 points on 53.7 percent shooting from the field, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. George has put up 24.0 points in two games against their LA rivals.
Leonard’s defense on James will be crucial for the Clippers. He’s done an admirable job in that aspect, as James is shooting just 40 percent from the floor when The Klaw is the closest defender.
PREDICTIONS:
In what could be another preview of the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers take down the Clippers, 110-107.
