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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 overlooked advantages that will lead to a title

Jason Reed|
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 01: Dwight Howard #39 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers high-five during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center on December 01, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 01: Dwight Howard #39 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers high-five during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Staples Center on December 01, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

3. The Los Angeles Lakers are just as rested as any team in the league

Let’s rewind the clocks back to when the season was in full swing and it seemed like every single day there was some sort of debate about who would win in a playoff series, the Los Angeles Lakers or the Los Angeles Clippers.

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While the Clippers are absolutely a solid team and cannot be overlooked in the slightest, one of the biggest arguments against the Lakers was that the Clippers were never 100 percent during the regular season and that they would be more rested than the Lakers when the Western Conference Finals rolled around.

That part was true. The Clippers would be more rested as they dealt with various injuries as well as really adopting the load management philosophy for Kawhi Leonard. By resting Leonard for 15-20 games during the regular season, it would ensure that he would be fresher for the WCF against the Lakers.

That advantage is no longer there as with this hiatus every team has not only gotten the opportunity to rest but also has to overcome the hurdles of getting back into game speed. No longer do the Clippers have this rest advantage that seemingly was going to decide the series, at least in the eyes of some fans.

What the Lakers do have that the Clippers don’t is more on-court chemistry, something that often gets confused in the debate as well. When we talk about chemistry, most fans instantly jump to how the team interacts in the locker room and in that department we cannot say that the Clippers have bad chemistry.

However, they certainly do not seem to be as tightknit as the Lakers are and don’t have the playing time together that is going to create on-court chemistry. Let’s not forget that this is a new version of the Clippers with new star players (plus additions such as Marcus Morris) that already had to learn to play together this season.

The Clippers never got that. They rarely had their best group out there and when the going gets tough, and we start to split hairs in the playoffs, the Lakers’ on-court chemistry and familiarity with each other is going to show.

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