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MikeyMike
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Post Subject: Lakers will maintain superiority over Clippers
 Posted: Aug 20, 2012 - 09:36 PM PST
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Casual Laker Fan
Joined: Jul 21, 2012
Posts: 108
  
votes: 3
Status: Offline
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By Mark Medina
With the roster changes pretty much finalized, it's safe to envision how the Lakers will fare in the 2012-13 season. Sure, the Lakers will have to thin their 14-man roster during training camp, and no one can be sure how any potential deals might change the NBA landscape. But in the spirit of seeing how things have evolved for the Lakers since the 2012 NBA playoffs, this is one in a series breaking down potentially troublesome opponents.
Team: Clippers
Lakers' record vs. Clippers last season: 2-1
How Clippers fared last season: Finished fifth in the Western Conference with a 40-26 regular-season record. Swept in four games by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semifinals.
Why the Lakers are a threat to the Clippers: Even when the Clippers ran and dunked their way toward relevancy last season, they didn't steal the Lakers' spot as L.A.'s top team. They just seemed more exciting. Well the Lakers just soured that buzz by picking up Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, which should replace Slowtime with Showtime. Even though Chris Paul and Blake Griffin keep the young Clippers as playoff contenders, they'll be no match for the Lakers.
Nash may be 106 years old (actually 3 , but he can still run the pick-and-roll as effectively as Paul. Griffin may enjoy beating up Pau Gasol from time to time, but he won't be able to do the same against Howard. Meanwhile, the Clippers upgrades for their bench with Lamar Odom, Grant Hill and Jamal Crawford lose some luster after the Lakers added scoring punch with Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks. The Clippers may have made inroads, but they're still a long way from matching the Lakers.
This matchup goes beyond the hype. The Lakers still have more playoff experience. DeAndre Jordan has no chance at stopping Howard. Paul may blow by Nash in the open floor, but Howard won't cede much near the basket. Neither Crawford nor Chauncey Billups can guard Bryant. Gasol can overcome Griffin's superior physical play by outwitting him in the post. Add up all these variable, and the Lakers will prove once again that the Clippers are a relative afterthought in L.A.
Why the Clippers are a threat to the Lakers: As talented as the starting lineup appears on paper, the Lakers still have to avoid injuries to be successful. That could be dicey. Who knows how back surgery will affect Howard? Bryant takes great care of his body, but nobody beats Father Time. Metta World Peace no longer has nerve issues in his back, but his athleticism has waned. Pau Gasol could wear out if he has to play more during Howard's absence. And lest we forget that, at 38, Nash is ancient by NBA point guard standards.
Should any of these issues percolate, the Clippers could take full advantage. Absolutely no one can stop Paul on the open floor. The athleticism of Griffin and Jordan is unmatched. It's likely that the Clippers' playoff experience last season will help them better manage their infinite bursts of energy. The Clippers' bench also boasts more experience and talent.
Verdict: Sorry Clipper Darrell. The Lakers remain Kings of L.A. It will be a fun series, and both teams will put on a good show. But the Lakers seem far too superior to even consider this a legitimate rivalry.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow ... vrit=53297 |
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rekalAL
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Post Subject: RE: Lakers will maintain superiority over Clippers
Posted: Aug 20, 2012 - 09:43 PM PST
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Die-Hard Laker Fan
Joined: Feb 19, 2009
Posts: 1352
votes: 1
Status: Offline
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| As long as Vinny Del Negro coaches that team they will not achieve anything....Last season that only player that counter balance that team is Billups, guess what when Chauncey went down so does the play of the Clippers....they might be good offensively BUT what you cannot teach the Clippers is how to win crucial ball games.... |
_________________
"For the strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack" - Phil Jackson
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Post Subject: RE: Lakers will maintain superiority over Clippers
Posted: Aug 20, 2012 - 09:43 PM PST
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Lakers Topbuzz Hall of Famer
Joined: Aug 01, 2007 Age: 21
Posts: 7836
Location: Sydney, Australia
votes: 53
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MikeyMike,
Please put the article in quotes when you post it to the site, thanks. |
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ClipJanowski
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Post Subject: RE: Lakers will maintain superiority over Clippers
Posted: Aug 21, 2012 - 12:14 AM PST
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Joined: Aug 13, 2012
Posts: 41
votes: 1
Status: Offline
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| HAHAHA this guy is a joke, i respect a good opinion but this guy is a Laker blogger and boy can you tell when you read this. |
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lakerdude
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Post Subject: RE: Lakers will maintain superiority over Clippers
Posted: Aug 21, 2012 - 12:32 AM PST
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Joined: Jun 24, 2007
Posts: 4235
votes: 31
Status: Offline
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| If we don't keep our Kingship over the Clippers after what we have done this off season, then this off season will have been the biggest failure of all time. The last time we had a worst record against the Clippers was when they had Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley. If they have a better record than us this year, then we have gone a$$ backwords. There is no way the Clippers will challenge us this season, lol... If they do, there will be a lot of explaining to do!!!! |
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ralppcobarde
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Post Subject: RE: Lakers will maintain superiority over Clippers
Posted: Aug 21, 2012 - 07:59 AM PST
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Laker GM
Joined: Dec 05, 2007 Age: 19
Posts: 4465
votes: 16
Status: Offline
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| Lakers will always maintain their superiority over clippers. they have a very good year last season,unlike us who came of a very not so good season. and yet, we are able to top them on their standings. i still believe, our defense has an edge, i do not think that team has. they still have no answer for Kobe and Dwight. |
_________________
"Bad artists copy. Good artists steal". - Pablo Picasso
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JChrist101
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Post Subject: RE: Lakers will maintain superiority over Clippers
Posted: Aug 21, 2012 - 10:32 AM PST
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Die-Hard Laker Fan
Joined: Dec 13, 2011
Posts: 2440
votes: 9
Status: Offline
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| I see the Lakers and Clippers going 2-2...just my opinion. |
_________________
"Clippers will always be the JV squad in Los Angeles. No matter who they get." - Ice Cube
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E-Dong
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Post Subject: RE: Lakers will maintain superiority over Clippers
Posted: Aug 21, 2012 - 10:43 AM PST
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Joined: Jul 26, 2012 Age: 37
Posts: 814
Location: San Clemente
votes: 2
Status: Offline
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Uhhhhhhh, really?
Does this even need to be debated now that we have one of the most talented Laker Squads in the past 20 years?
Yes, it's only on paper right now, but I'm just sayin.' |
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