It should be the Lakers hoping to not run into the LA Clippers

Danny Green said the LA Clippers should hope they don’t run into the Lakers in the postseason but it should be the other way around.

Danny Green of the Los Angeles Lakers the Big Apple Bucks podcast to discuss the NBA’s hiatus among other things. At one point during the pod, the inevitable came up: the Staples Center rivalry between the Lakers and LA Clippers.

Green had this to say:

"“If the Lakers and the Clippers do meet each other in the playoffs, those are seven road games for the Clippers. That is the Lakers arena. Even if they play in Staples Arena, they change the paint and all that type of stuff, trust me, those are seven home games for the Lakers. The Clippers have just hope and pray they didn’t run into the Lakers. But I think it’s inevitable”"

There is some grain of truth in Green’s statement. Sure, Staples Center is shared but the crowds are predominantly dominated by Lakers fans even when the Clippers are the home team. In the playoffs, it will likely still be the case.

Green is also likely correct in the fact that a postseason meeting between the two is inevitable. With both teams clicking prior to the season being put on pause, a Western Conference Finals matchup seemed like the only possible outcome.

That’s where the truth ends though. The Lakers should be hoping and praying they don’t run into the Clippers. As it stands now, the Clippers lead the season series 2-1. The last matchup was a Lakers win and while both teams were full strength, the Lakers did seem like the game was more important to them.

The Clippers have a solid group of players meant to counter LeBron James. Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Marcus Morris, and even Patrick Beverley will all likely get a shot at guarding James. The team can also throw a variety of size and speed at Anthony Davis.

If the Clippers can manage to limit either player, the series would come down to role players. With Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams leading the bench unit alongside the likes of Landry Shamet, JaMychal Green, and Reggie Jackson, the Clippers have the supporting class to outplay the Lakers role players.

This isn’t to say the series won’t be tough. Anything short of six games would surprise me. Even though it’s a tough series, Danny Green is doing a lot of talking for someone whose team is down in the season series.

There’s no timetable still on when the NBA season will return, if at all. If and when it does, the Lakers better hope they are ready. The LA Clippers have the pieces and the Lakers should be scared.