Los Angeles Lakers: 5 Reasons why they will be better than the Clippers
By Robert Marvi
2. The Lakers have much better size
Even in this era of pace-and space basketball, size still matters, and games are still won in the paint.
Former Laker head coach Pat Riley summed it up with a famous one liner: no rebounds, no rings. He also once said, according to Roland Lazenby in his book The Lakers: A Basketball Journey that the center position is the most important position in basketball.
The Lakers now have two centers who can be counted on to impact a game, especially defensively and on the boards: Davis (he plays center about half the time) and McGee.
In addition, they took a flyer on DeMarcus Cousins, who is coming off of a torn Achilles, and more recently, a torn quad. He will be this team’s wild card. He looked terrible during last month’s championship series, but if he can regain even some of the level of play he had late this past season when he averaged 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks on 48.0 percent shooting, the Lakers championship chances increase even more.
Other than Zubac, who is still somewhat unproven, who do the Clippers have to check those three guys?
Who will they put on Davis when Zubac isn’t in the game? Harrell, who stands at just 6-foot-8?
Unless the Clippers make a big splash again and acquire a legit, high-quality 7-footer, the Lakers may end up abusing them in the paint. With a potential starting lineup of Davis at the 4, McGee at the 5 and LeBron at the 3, the Lakers should dominate the boards and limit teams to just one shot.
That lineup also has the advantage of foot speed, as all three of those guys run the floor very well and are at their best in transition. Zubac is more of a lumbering center than a sleek, fleet-footed big a la Davis and McGee.
Whether we’re talking about a 135-130 shootout or a 105-102 grindfest, the Lakers should have their way with the Clippers’ frontcourt.