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Los Angeles Lakers: The best-case scenario for LA in the play-in tourney

By Jason Reed

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 19: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on after losing to the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 19, 2022 in Washington, DC. 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 19: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on after losing to the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 19, 2022 in Washington, DC. 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Los Angeles Lakers should want to play the Clippers in the second play-in game

The Los Angeles Clippers have dominated the Lakers in the regular season in recent years but that should not deter the team from wanting to play their cross-hall rivals. As long as Kawhi Leonard and Paul George do not return, they are easily the better team for the Lakers to play in this game.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been playing really good basketball in the second half of the season and quite frankly, are a much better team than the Clippers (without their two stars). Not only has Minnesota played really well this season but they have smacked the Lakers around. The Lakers are 1-3 against Minnesota with three blowout losses.

It is important to note that the Clippers have won seven regular-season games in a row against the Lakers and that cannot be discredited. However. the playoffs are a different animal and the Lakers would be picking the lesser of two evils.

The Lakers would also have a massive advantage if this were to happen as well. The Clippers would be the home team in this potential matchup after being the road team against the Timberwolves.

That means that the Clippers would have to travel from one of the farthest teams in the Western Conference back in LA to host the Lakers. Meanwhile, the Lakers would have been in LA the entire time as they hosted the 10th seed in the first game.

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And while it would be a “Clippers” home game, it would be a pro-Lakers crowd and the Lakers would get to sleep in their own beds. As we mentioned earlier, the Lakers are much better at home than on the road.

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