3 reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers would beat the Clippers in a series

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis is a matchup nightmare

At first glance, this first point may appear to be ill-founded. After all, in three games so far this season, the Clippers have done a reasonable job in guarding AD, with his averages of 26.3 PPG / 7.3 RPG / 3.3 APG / 1.7 SPG / 1.7 BPG, being either around or slightly below his season-long numbers.

However, the first two games were the season opener in October and Christmas Day, when Davis was still getting used to playing in a new system. In the most recent matchup on March 8, he went for 30 / 7 / 2 on 58% from the field in a Lakers win.

A major weakness for the Clippers is their ability to defend elite offensive bigs. According to Hashtag Basketball, the Clippers are ranked 15th at defending Power Forwards and 19th at defending Centers, the latter of which Davis usually plays during crunch time.

Ivica Zubac has the size to bother Davis and is a much-improved defender, but struggles against athletic bigs, due to having the mobility of an inanimate carbon rod. Montrezl Harrell has the quickness to keep up with Davis, but at 6-7, he lacks the size to bother him. Marcus Morris, who once famously called himself “The LeBron Stopper”, has actually been a negative defender according to advanced stats every year since 2015-16.

Over a seven-game series, I don’t see the Clippers as being capable of shutting Anthony Davis down for extended stretches.