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Clippers: ESPN insider claims Lakers’ schedule makes LAC’s look unfair

By Adam Weinrib

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 06: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers dribbles as he is guarded by Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at Staples Center on May 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 06: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers dribbles as he is guarded by Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at Staples Center on May 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Harry How/Getty Images) /
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When the 2021-22 season begins, the Los Angeles Clippers will be slightly downgraded in status from the previous two seasons.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George ushered in hope that this town could be taken back two years ago, but the plan hasn’t panned out, leading to the Lakers instead getting one banner richer (thus far). The pain’s culminated in Leonard’s surgery to repair a partially-torn ACL; his timetable for recovery remains vague, and will surely be slower than other stars who’ve encountered similar problems.

With so many things working against the Clips entering this season, you’d hope the logistics of the campaign would at least begin on equal footing. Control the controllables and hope for an even playing field…right?

Well…not really. Because it certainly seems like the NBA went out of their way to coddle the Lakers, while placing plenty of strain on the team that shares their building, a relationship that can’t end fast enough.

Surely, this take came from some Clippers homer, right? ESPN went to Billy Crystal’s house and just gave him a microphone?

(checks earpiece) Welp, I’m now being told this opinion came from LeBron tracker Brian Windhorst. My apologies. Take a gander.

The Lakers and Clippers have wildly different schedule loads in 2021-22.

For a team that relies on load management with Kawhi Leonard, and will be forced to survive without him, how is this remotely equitable?

As the graphic above displays, it’s not like “five games in seven nights” stretches are a hallmark of the NBA. Seven of the league’s teams never have to face this reality this season, and the Lakers — who should, by all accounts, have the same travel restrictions as the Clips — have only been dealt this hand one time throughout the entire campaign.

On top of everything, the Clippers’ insane five stretches of this variety include a wild trip from Dec. 26-Jan. 1, Sunday to Saturday. LA will play the Nuggets and Nets at home on back-to-back nights, then travel across the country for the Celtics on Weds, the Raptors on Fri, and Brooklyn again on Saturday. Who is that for, if not the Clippers’ opponents?!

The league clearly has no interest in laying down the red carpet for one of their four conference finalists, but they didn’t have to make it this obvious. Kudos to Windhorst for pinpointing our pain point.

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