Clipperholics
Fansided

Three reasons why the LA Clippers will beat the Lakers on Christmas

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 22: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers laughs with Kawhi Leonard #2 leading the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter in a 112-102 Clippers win in the LA Clippers season home opener at Staples Center on October 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 22: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers laughs with Kawhi Leonard #2 leading the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter in a 112-102 Clippers win in the LA Clippers season home opener at Staples Center on October 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 19: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers reacts to a play during the game against the Houston Rockets on December 19, 2019, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 19: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers reacts to a play during the game against the Houston Rockets on December 19, 2019, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The LA Clippers are the deeper team

The LA Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers each have two of the league’s top-10 players, and they’ll do everything they can to win this game. But when it comes down to it, it’ll likely be the benches that determine the outcome — and the Clippers have the edge there. There’s no question.

LA leads the league in bench points per game this season with 51.3, which is 17 points better than the Lakers’ 22nd-ranked 34.3.

Admittedly, the Lakers have not had all of their best bench pieces available all season long. But even with Kyle Kuzma back in the rotation, the group of he, Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard just doesn’t stack up with Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell and JaMychal Green.

The Lakers do have a size advantage there, but that hasn’t been a huge issue for the Clippers yet this season. Harrell, despite standing six feet seven inches, has been able to out-hustle plenty of opposing bigs this year. He entered Saturday’s game as the league leader in boxouts and charges drawn and ranked fifth in contested shots.

Williams, despite being slightly less efficient and a non-factor on defense, is still a wizard offensively. He’s pouring in 19.5 points and a career-high 6.1 assists per game this season, and his three-point percentage is the highest its been since he joined the team.

Green hustles like Harrell, but his three-point shot is one of the most reliable the Clippers have. He’s shooting 37.9 percent from deep on over four attempts per game, and his rate should only improve as he works his way back from a tailbone injury.

Next. What will the LA Clippers' healthy rotation look like?. dark

The LA Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers are set to face off tonight at 5:00 p.m. PST. It’s technically a road game, so expect the crowd to lean Lakers.

Home/Clippers News