The LA Clippers beat the Lakers 113-105 on Monday, in a game which showed off the hustle of these Clips.
Patrick Beverley stole the opening tip for an easy layup, and that set the tone for the entire game. These Clippers were going to out-hustle and outwork the Lakers, and that they did. In a 113-105 victory, the Clips out-rebounded the Lakers, jumped passing lanes better, and did all the little things necessary.
Beverley took the task of guarding LeBron, and Doc made sure to send help on the Lakers’ forward when necessary. Asked about the mindset of guys like himself and Bev, Montrezl Harrell summed it up nicely:
Montrezl Harrell on the dynamic between him and Patrick Beverley: "We're guys that aren't going to back down from anybody. We don't care who it is. We're gonna go out there, lace our boots, and make people compete against us." #Clippers pic.twitter.com/zEA9eZCven
— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) March 5, 2019
For more on Beverley’s incredible confidence this season, check out this piece by Ryan Snellings.
In the starting five, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari had fantastic games. Gallo posted 23 points and 6 rebounds on 60% from the field, and SGA had 14 points and 4 assists on 55% shooting. Their numbers really don’t tell the story. Shai picked his spots and managed to create shots when needed, and the Lakers guards had trouble containing him. Danilo seemed unstoppable at stretches.
Landry Shamet didn’t shoot the ball terribly well, but he kept confidence and managed to hit a couple of threes, including one timely dagger at the end. Asked about the young guard, Doc Rivers said, “I trust Landry Shamet. He’s a shooter. He will not hesitate.”
Shamet has now moved into a tie for 22nd among all rookies in NBA history on the total 3 pointers made leaderboard, and he’s second among rookies this year in 3 pointers made and 3 point percentage (minimum 100 attempts).
The Lakers had trouble playing defense against the Clips on the inside. Montrezl Harrell feasted in the paint, including a couple of easy step-through dunks that left the Lakers defense scratching their heads. He also snagged 11 rebounds, which is tied for the 2nd most he’s gotten all season. Nobody on the Lakers was matching Trezz’s intensity near the rim.
44 points from the Clippers bench was just another day for this incredible second unit. This bench has helped the starters hold onto leads and build them all season, and this game was no different. The Lakers bench managed 27 points. Advantage: Clippers.
Rajon Rondo did his best to keep the Lakers in it late, dropping 4 three pointers en route to a 24 point, 12 assist, 10 rebound triple double. LeBron had impressive stats, as usual: 27 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists. Josh Hart added 17 points and 4 rebounds, but no other Laker was particularly effective, with Brandon Ingram a game-day scratch with shoulder soreness.
Per 538s ELO playoff odds, this win puts the Clippers’ playoff odds at 97%, and they project us to win 47 games, putting us at the 7 seed. That said, higher seeds than that are at play. We’re now only half a game behind the Jazz for the 6 seed, 2.5 games behind the Rockets for the 5 seed and 3.5 games behind the Thunder/Blazers for the 3/4 seed. With 16 games left to play for the Clippers, those are lofty but not totally unattainable goals.
Meanwhile, this puts a dagger in the Lakers’ playoff hopes, putting them below a 1% chance per 538. It’s nice to be the ones to end that playoff campaign, but we wouldn’t gloat, now would we?
The LA Clippers are now 37-29, meaning they’ve already surpassed ESPN’s preseason projection by 2. The fact that we’re looking at an above .500 season is an incredible feat, and a testament to our coaching, front office and players. The Clips will now take a couple days’ rest, before seeing the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. From here on out, every game matters for playoff seeding, but this one has some extra ramifications for the Clippers’ push for a higher seed.