LA Clippers: 5 Most Interesting Games in the Second Half

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Tyronn Lue of the LA Clippers speaks with Kawhi Leonard #2 and Patrick Beverley during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Tyronn Lue of the LA Clippers speaks with Kawhi Leonard #2 and Patrick Beverley during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LA Clippers Paul George
LA Clippers Paul George (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

LA Clippers 5 Most Interesting Games #2: “Home” vs. Los Angeles, May 6

It’s the LA Clippers vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. Do I have to say anything more to get you interested in the game? Probably not, but I’ll do it anyway.

Much of the interest here mirrors the reasons I’m excited about the Denver Nuggets game. The LA Clippers beat the Lakers 116-109 on opening night and haven’t played them since, lending an element of “was that real, or do we throw it out on opening night?”

But there are two things that make this game more interesting than the Denver game. To start, it’s the Lakers and not the Nuggets. As much as we all want the LA Clippers to beat the Nuggets because of last season’s playoffs, it pales in comparison to how much we always want to beat the Lakers.

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You can always feel it in the demeanor of the players, too. It doesn’t matter when a Lakers vs. Clippers game happens; every single coach and player is going at 100% to try to win. These teams don’t like each other, and they’re not afraid to show they don’t like each other.

The second differentiating factor is the Western Conference standings. As it stands, Denver is in the 8th seed and 5.5 games behind the LA Clippers. Knocking on every piece of wood around me, it’s hard to imagine the Clips and Nuggets competing for seeding.

On the other hand, the LA Clippers are only half a game above the Lakers in the standings at the moment, and I won’t be surprised if it’s equally or similarly close come the end of the year. There’s a very decent chance that this game could provide enough separation for one of the LA teams to hold onto a spot above the other with a win.

Most years, this game would have been the most exciting game of the season. And to be honest, if you think this is the most interesting one, I can’t argue with you. But to me, there’s one game that tops it.