NBA’s Christmas Day treat
Kawhi’s Clippers face LeBron’s Lakers
LOS ANGELES – The NBA has billed the game as one of its marquee matchups on Christmas Day. When the Lakers and Clippers meet Wednesday (8 ET, ABC), the implications might go beyond bragging rights in the entertainment capital. It might be a sneak preview of a Western Conference playoff matchup.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis try to rectify their season-opening loss to the Clippers. While Kawhi Leonard will try to dominate just as he did on opening night, Paul George will make his debut against the Lakers after missing the first 11 games recovering from offseason surgery on both shoulders. The Lakers will try to prove that their West-leading record will last for five months. The Clippers hope their short-term pains with injuries and integrating new players start to pass.
To break down these storylines, USA TODAY Sports talked to an informal group of NBA television analysts. The analysts were named because they are paid for their candor. One NBA assistant coach was granted anonymity for their candor.
How would you size up where the Lakers and Clippers are so far?
Gary Payton, former NBA player and analyst for NBATV: “Both of them are pretty much where we thought about they would be. But I thought the Clippers would be a little bit better than this, record wise. The only reason that it isn’t is because of the load management or rest management that they’re going through with Kawhi. I think the Lakers are a little bit different because they’re not having load management. They’re playing with each other and are getting a chemistry together. Their chemistry is so good with LeBron and AD and all the other players around them. Basically, they are all playing their roles, especially with the way Dwight Howard is playing. The Clippers are up and down right now because they don’t know what they’re going to get.”
Stan Van Gundy, former NBA coach and analyst for NBATV: “They have been as good as advertised. I think the Lakers have probably come around quicker than maybe people expected with all the new faces where the Clippers had more struggles. But that’s purely been because of health. The Lakers have been able to get Davis and James out there every day. They’ve played together from training camp all the way through. With the Clippers, Paul George didn’t really do training camp, and Kawhi played on a limited basis. They haven’t played together that much. So it’s still a work in progress. But I think we’ve seen enough to know they’re going to be really solid contenders.”
Jalen Rose, former NBA player,
ESPN NBA analyst for Christmas Day games: “The Lakers and Bucks both understand and seem to be playing for the marathon and acknowledging they want to get the highest seed possible. Not only do they want home-court advantage in their conference, but possibly as opponents in the NBA Finals. What the Clippers could face is if one of the Western Conference teams, which has not happened yet, distinguishes themselves as a second tier. Houston, Utah, Portland, they haven’t played as well as they have hoped so far. So the Lakers and Clippers are the clear-cut best teams in the conference as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds.”
Isiah Thomas, former NBA player and analyst for NBATV: “I’m a little surprised at how fast and how well both teams have come together. The Lakers are getting off to a juggernaut start and so are the Clippers. When you have that kind of talent that both teams have and none of them have played a lot of minutes together, there are normally bumps and hurdles that you go through in the early part of the season, you work it out. By late December or early January, that’s when you start to see these teams come together and start rolling. The success that both teams have had out of the gate has been a little surprising. But that speaks well to the coaching and the talent that they have.”
Anonymous NBA assistant coach: “In the regular season, the Lakers are going to be dominant. I think the Clippers are more suited for the playoffs just because of their defense.”
Considering everyone is healthy, which duo would you pick? LeBron and AD or Kawhi and PG?
Payton: “I don’t know who can guard AD between Paul and Kawhi. Either one can guard LeBron. But AD is a bigger player. (Montrezl) Harrell would have to take that job or (Patrick) Patterson. One of those guys would have to take that situation. But AD is a good enough basketball player where he can put them down in the block and then shoot over them. He will be a big problem for the Clippers. I think the Lakers trying to guard Kawhi and Paul will be different, too. They will take them out on the perimeter, especially AD. LeBron would have to step up on his defense. So that would be a big matchup. I would love to see this. That’s why I want to see it with all four of them on the floor. I hope that happens on Christmas. Then we can really see what is going to happen with these guys. It’s hard to tell now.”
Van Gundy: “All four of them are going to be great. I don’t think there is a big edge. If I had to give a slight edge, I’d give it to the Clippers on the offensive end for two reasons. No. 1: I think both (Leonard and George) are able to create shots on their own and it’s easier for them than it is for Anthony Davis. He needs to get the ball in the post. Plus, I think they’ve got the better shot creator in Lou Williams. But I’d give the Lakers a slight edge defensively. I have a hard time making a call between those two teams. They both seem highly motivated right now. I like how the rosters have been constructed around those guys. I give both front offices a lot of credit for what they’ve done. Both teams are doing a great job. It’s hard for me to pick between them.”
Rose: “With all things equal in basketball, you always go with taller. In that instance, I have to go with the Lakers and their bulk and their interior presence. When you can have LeBron at his size at 6-9 and Kyle Kuzma and then you go bigger with Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee. They have so many big productive players that they can put out there. That creates the difference.”
Thomas: “We all have to sit back and wait for the answer to play out. There are pluses and minuses on both sides of the ledger. Neither one of them is more dominant than the other. I look at the duo of Leonard and George and LeBron and Davis, that’s must-see TV and must-watch every night. I don’t know if you can really, at least I’m not comfortable saying who is the best or who’s who. On any given night, they both can dominate each other.”
Assistant: “That’s tough. It goes back to the playoffs and regular season. Even though AD is a good defender, I think on-ball perimeter defense is extremely valuable. If all four guys are healthy and you factor in the stages of your career, I’m going with Kawhi and Paul. But man is it tough. There’s an argument for both. Not only is LeBron in better shape than last year, he’s in better shape than his last year in Cleveland when he played a lot of minutes. That break rejuvenated him a little bit. He’s making multiple efforts on defense. His change of direction stuff is better from side to side. He’s in really good condition. Last year, he was pretty much worn down after his time in Cleveland.”
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