Since the arrival of LeBron James and Anthony Davis on one side and the George-Leonard pair on the other, the NBA has continued to highlight the Los Angeles derby between Lakers and Clippers. The two formations were built to play the leading roles in the West and why not one day meet in the playoffs. Except that the two franchises NEVER faced each other in the playoffs, and when “Lob City” set the NBA on fire with the Paul-Griffin duo, the Lakers were on a slippery slope dealing with serious injuries and the end of career of Kobe Bryant. In 2020, in the “bubble”, it was the Nuggets who overthrew the Clippers to prevent them from facing the Lakers.
Finally, we must therefore be satisfied with derbies without stakes. Until this evening which could be the most important in the history of Los Angeles! “It’s probably the first important game we’ve played against them. There are a lot of issues right now.” recognizes Tyronn Lue.
Scent of the playoffs
The Clippers who have just chained three losses in five games have fallen to 6th place with 41 wins for 38 losses, and they can wake up in 8th place tomorrow morning if they lose to the Lakers and the Pelicans s impose against the Grizzlies. For their part, in the event of a victory, the Lakers would move to 5th place, tied with the Warriors but with the “tie-breaker” on the defending champions.
Tonight’s clash is therefore akin to the most important duel in recent history between the two teams.
“Contrary to what everyone hopes, we never had the opportunity to face them in a series of playoffs but this is the closest thing to it”, said Clippers center Ivica ZubacLaker from 2016 to 2019 before being transferred to the neighboring enemy. “I think it’s the most important game I’ve been in with the Lakers and the Clippers. We can feel it now. It will be the biggest game of the season for both teams. I can not wait to be there “.
Reunion with Russell Westbrook
To spice it up a bit, it will also be the first time that Russell Westbrook will find the Lakers, and it’s a safe bet that the reunion will be lively, and that the Clippers point guard will be over-motivated.
“We know what was said in the media, what was said about him and his time there. We have always supported him since day one, since he arrived here and we made him part of our team, our family.said Norman Powell. “For any player, it’s about giving their old franchise a hard time. So I think it’s an important match for him and for us as well.”
The Clippers have won the first three meetings and therefore have the tie-breaker regardless of the result tonight. Although they are still ten wins in a row against the Lakers, for Tyronn Lue, who will always be deprived of Paul George, his group is not the favorite for all that.
“The situation is different. A lot of things are at stake right now. They are playing at a high level and this is the first game that really matters that we have to play. I can’t wait to figure it out. We will see. I don’t know why we were so good against them, but it will be a different game.”he confided.
Even if his team had three days off before the meeting, when the Lakers are back-to-back, and they also imposed an extension against the Jazz…
