Clippers show Lakers what they aren’t in first | College News

The instrumental observe behind one of Los Angeles’ largest songs performed over the Intuit Dome’s best-that-money-can-buy sound system late in the opening half — the right tune for what had been unfolding.

Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” wasn’t a Lakers diss observe, and he didn’t even should rap the refrain for the purpose to be pushed home.

All the issues which have made the Clippers one of the surprises of the NBA season threaten to make the Lakers a disappointment, hurdles the staff has but to beat and ones that, barring roster reconstruction, simply would possibly by no means occur.

Defensive strain all around the court docket? Yeah, the Lakers aren’t like that.

Consistent toughness and measurement? The Clippers have it.

Clear offensive identification and buy in? Well, the Lakers aren’t like that both.

The scoreboard confirmed the plain for many of the Clippers’ 116-102 win Sunday night time in the first assembly between the groups this season.

While the Lakers might need larger expectations as a result of of their stars and since they’ve already been lively on the commerce market, the Clippers performed Sunday like a staff absolutely assured in itself, its identification and its plans for the long run.

Sunday, their best basketball got here when the sport was already in all probability determined. Late in the third, whereas a “Let’s go Lakers” chant broke out in a primarily pro-Clippers crowd, the Lakers made a push, chopping a 26-point lead down to 11. But LeBron James, one of the instigators during that stretch, missed three point-blank appears to be like on the basket with the Lakers needing to be excellent to have a actual probability at a comeback.

They weren’t.

James led the Lakers (22-18) with 25 factors and 11 assists and Rui Hachimura scored 19, however no different Lakers participant made a sizable offensive affect, together with Anthony Davis, who scored 16 factors on five-for-14 capturing and Austin Reaves, who had 14, however might solely create six photographs. He left the sport hobbling after showing to injure his knee in the fourth.

The Lakers’ weaknesses are evident. They tried to keep Ivica Zubac from dominating the paint, however the former Laker took benefit of the Lakers’ lack of measurement, ending with 21 factors and 19 rebounds. They need playmaking help for Reaves and James, the 2 main ballhandlers every accounting for 5 of the Lakers’ 17 turnovers.

And they need more defensive toughness to help restrict a staff just like the Clippers, who drive a lot offense from the perimeter, to harder nights than 52.8% capturing.

The Clippers, people across the league virtually unanimously anticipate, will seemingly be quiet on the commerce deadline (regardless of having a quantity of gamers coveted by NBA groups). Their huge transfer is more easy — reintegrating Kawhi Leonard as they attempt to keep him out there for the remainder of the season.

Leonard performed 24 minutes and 17 seconds — a season high — as he continues to work back from the knee points which have bothered him a lot of his time with the Clippers. He scored 19 factors on solely 13 photographs, doling out three of his 4 assists early in the first quarter to help the Clippers set the tone.

Norman Powell completed with 22 factors and James Harden had 21 factors and 12 assists for the Clippers (24-17).

The schedule will in all probability reduce the luster from the Clippers, who’ve received their final three video games by an average of 34 factors. They play 5 instances this week, their schedule moved round as a end result of wildfire postponements.

The Lakers have two more possibilities at home earlier than starting their annual Grammy highway journey, internet hosting Washington on Tuesday earlier than one other rivalry sport Thursday towards the Celtics.