Needless to say, Friday night's game against the Los Angeles Clippers just got a lot more important for Kobe Bryant and his teammates. Yet, despite their slow start, the Lakers can easily come away with a victory.
Granted, both the Lakers and Clippers have a lot to play for in their first game against one another. The Lakers are looking to avoid an 0-3 start, and the Clippers want to build off of their tremendous 106-94 road victory against the Denver Nuggets. Lob City was in full effect as Blake Griffin finished with a double-double and Chris Paul dished out 12 assists.
Though it may not seem like it at the moment, the Lakers are a far stronger team than their rivals. They can play stronger defense than the Clips and also feature a more balanced attack on offense now that Howard and Nash are on the team, though Nash's status for Friday remains uncertain.
More importantly, the Lakers won the season series against the Clippers last year, two games to one. That includes a game in which Paul and Pau Gasol shared a tense moment that further fueled the rivalry.
However, simply building off of last year's renewed rivalry is not how the Lakers can beat the Clippers. To come away with the victory, the solution is simple: take full advantage of Lob City's predictable offense.
Don't get me wrong—the Clippers are a talented team and a top contender, but they're an offensive team whose sole defense lies with Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan. Griffin may be a lock for a double-double each night, but he is slow on his feet and has a hard time keeping up wit...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
