LA (38 - 44)

Expert Pick
0% ><···················· 100%

LA (54 - 28)

BATTLE FOR LA


Here we go again. Another battle for the hearts and minds of the rich and famous. The Lakers and the Clippers face each for Round 3. Judges have it 2-0 to the Lakers, but the 2k gods don't respect the status quo. The Lakers are running hot after their slow start (9-1 L10) while the Clippers hunting just below .500 (4-6 L10). The Facts Lakers: 31–17 (3rd seed) • 3.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder • Firmly in the contender tier Clippers: 22–24 (10th seed) • Just 1 game back from 6th • Only 2.5 games separate 4th–10th • 11.5 back from OKC The Teams Los Angeles Lakers Buoyed by the arrival of his first assistant GM, LakeShow has set this team up for success. With no injuries this week, this team is set and forget and watch the wins start to rack up. As we takes some well earned paternity leave, he's coming back to a team reaching for the stars. Starters C – Victor Wembanyama PF – Isaiah Stewart SF – Brandon Ingram SG – Amen Thompson PG – Keaton Wallace Key Bench Weapons Zion Williamson, Lu Dort, Jusuf Nurkic, Brandon Williams, Gabe Vincent This Lakers team might be the longest defensive group in the league. Wembanyama erases mistakes at the rim. Stewart brings physicality. Ingram provides shot creation. Amen pressures downhill. And Zion off the bench overwhelms second units. They can: Switch across four positions Protect the rim without overhelping Play big or go small seamlessly They’ve already solved this Clippers matchup twice. Los Angeles Clippers One of the more enigmatic GMs in the game, Andrew has assembled a team without a star, but who can easily wound the contenders, on any given night. With one of the youngest teams in the league, their time might not be now, but watch out. Starters C – Isaiah Hartenstein PF – Paolo Banchero SF – Jalen Williams SG – VJ Edgecombe PG – Cason Wallace Rotation Depth Keyonte George, Trey Murphy III, John Collins, Jordan Hawkins, AJ Johnson This Clippers team is built on skill and scoring versatility. Banchero is the engine — a matchup nightmare who can bully wings and stretch bigs. Jalen Williams brings efficiency and two-way balance. Cason Wallace gives point-of-attack defense. Edgecombe adds scoring punch. Off the bench, Trey Murphy and Collins provide spacing and athleticism. The problem? Interior defense against elite size.

Here we go again. Another battle for the hearts and minds of the rich and famous. The Lakers and the Clippers face each for Round 3. Judges have it 2-0 to the Lakers, but the 2k gods don't respect the status quo. The Lakers are running hot after their slow start (9-1 L10) while the Clippers hunting just below .500 (4-6 L10).

The Facts

Lakers: 31–17 (3rd seed)
• 3.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder
• Firmly in the contender tier
Clippers: 22–24 (10th seed)
• Just 1 game back from 6th
• Only 2.5 games separate 4th–10th
• 11.5 back from OKC

The Teams

Los Angeles Lakers

Buoyed by the arrival of his first assistant GM, LakeShow has set this team up for success. With no injuries this week, this team is set and forget and watch the wins start to rack up. As we takes some well earned paternity leave, he's coming back to a team reaching for the stars.

Starters

C – Victor Wembanyama
PF – Isaiah Stewart
SF – Brandon Ingram
SG – Amen Thompson
PG – Keaton Wallace

Key Bench Weapons
Zion Williamson, Lu Dort, Jusuf Nurkic, Brandon Williams, Gabe Vincent

This Lakers team might be the longest defensive group in the league.
Wembanyama erases mistakes at the rim.
Stewart brings physicality.
Ingram provides shot creation.
Amen pressures downhill.
And Zion off the bench overwhelms second units.
They can:

Switch across four positions
Protect the rim without overhelping
Play big or go small seamlessly
They’ve already solved this Clippers matchup twice.

Los Angeles Clippers

One of the more enigmatic GMs in the game, Andrew has assembled a team without a star, but who can easily wound the contenders, on any given night. With one of the youngest teams in the league, their time might not be now, but watch out.

Starters

C – Isaiah Hartenstein
PF – Paolo Banchero
SF – Jalen Williams
SG – VJ Edgecombe
PG – Cason Wallace

Rotation Depth
Keyonte George, Trey Murphy III, John Collins, Jordan Hawkins, AJ Johnson

This Clippers team is built on skill and scoring versatility.
Banchero is the engine — a matchup nightmare who can bully wings and stretch bigs.
Jalen Williams brings efficiency and two-way balance.
Cason Wallace gives point-of-attack defense.
Edgecombe adds scoring punch.
Off the bench, Trey Murphy and Collins provide spacing and athleticism.
The problem?

Interior defense against elite size.

Clippers Star

Jalen Williams
With his sidekick Paulo Banchero, Jalen Wliiams is powering this team. Shooting .50% and racking up 24/6/5. At .47% from outside the arc, he has the opportunity to pour in the points, away from Wemby wing span.

PPG 23.9

RPG 4.9

APG 5.3

SPG 0.9

BPG 0.7

FPG 1.5

TPG 1.1

PPG 38.5

RPG 16.1

APG 4.5

SPG 2.1

BPG 2.2

FPG 2.1

TPG 1.9

Lakers Star

Victor Wembanyama
“On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, 4th in Three-Point Percentage…3rd in Field Goals Made, 2nd in Points per Game, and 1st for Rebounds per Game"

X-Factor
Isaiah Hartenstein If the Clippers are going to flip this rivalry, the game may hinge on Isaiah Hartenstein’s ability to control Victor Wembanyama. Nobody truly “stops” Wemby — he changes the geometry of the floor, erases mistakes at the rim, and warps offensive decision-making — but Hartenstein doesn’t need to dominate him, he just needs to neutralise the edge. That means fighting for early position, forcing Wembanyama into contested jumpers instead of clean rim finishes, keeping him off the offensive glass, and most importantly staying out of foul trouble. If Wemby is merely good instead of overwhelming, the entire dynamic shifts: Paolo Banchero can attack without a 7-foot-4 deterrent waiting, Jalen Williams gets cleaner driving lanes, and the Clippers’ spacing suddenly breathes. Hartenstein won’t be asked for 25 points — he’ll be asked for physicality, discipline, and composure — and if he can turn this into a grind instead of a showcase, he becomes the true x-factor in a rivalry the Lakers currently control 2–0.

X-Factor

Isaiah Hartenstein

If the Clippers are going to flip this rivalry, the game may hinge on Isaiah Hartenstein’s ability to control Victor Wembanyama. Nobody truly “stops” Wemby — he changes the geometry of the floor, erases mistakes at the rim, and warps offensive decision-making — but Hartenstein doesn’t need to dominate him, he just needs to neutralise the edge. That means fighting for early position, forcing Wembanyama into contested jumpers instead of clean rim finishes, keeping him off the offensive glass, and most importantly staying out of foul trouble. If Wemby is merely good instead of overwhelming, the entire dynamic shifts: Paolo Banchero can attack without a 7-foot-4 deterrent waiting, Jalen Williams gets cleaner driving lanes, and the Clippers’ spacing suddenly breathes. Hartenstein won’t be asked for 25 points — he’ll be asked for physicality, discipline, and composure — and if he can turn this into a grind instead of a showcase, he becomes the true x-factor in a rivalry the Lakers currently control 2–0.

Injury Report
Injured Players: Coby White (--) - 28 NBA Games missed this season Returning Players: Nfaly Dante (returning from --) - 27 NBA Games missed this season JaeSean Tate (returning from --) - 4 NBA Games missed this season	Team is healthy this week Returning Players: Ron Holland (returning from ) - 4 NBA Games missed this season Kris Murray (returning from --) - 21 NBA Games missed this season Keyonte George (returning from --) - 8 NBA Games missed this season

Prediction
Hard to not see the Lakers celebrating their new team member with a win, but always rooting for the underdog. Lakers take it 123 - 102..

		Comments (1)
JustinG 02/24 01:58 am	Great read. The Wemby “lakers star” aspect was clever. I personally think this game has a lot closer finish. Would be surprised with a win over 10 points.

	CHI	117
	NY	144

	NY	126
	CHI	105

	IND	109
	CLE	116

	LAL	126
	UTAH	99

	CHI	139
	NY	134

LA (38 - 44)

LA (54 - 28)

BATTLE FOR LA

The Facts

Lakers: 31–17 (3rd seed)• 3.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder• Firmly in the contender tierClippers: 22–24 (10th seed)• Just 1 game back from 6th• Only 2.5 games separate 4th–10th• 11.5 back from OKC

The Teams

Los Angeles LakersBuoyed by the arrival of his first assistant GM, LakeShow has set this team up for success. With no injuries this week, this team is set and forget and watch the wins start to rack up. As we takes some well earned paternity leave, he's coming back to a team reaching for the stars.

Los Angeles LakersBuoyed by the arrival of his first assistant GM, LakeShow has set this team up for success. With no injuries this week, this team is set and forget and watch the wins start to rack up. As we takes some well earned paternity leave, he's coming back to a team reaching for the stars.

Key Bench Weapons Zion Williamson, Lu Dort, Jusuf Nurkic, Brandon Williams, Gabe Vincent

Los Angeles Clippers

Rotation Depth Keyonte George, Trey Murphy III, John Collins, Jordan Hawkins, AJ Johnson

Jalen Williams

Victor Wembanyama

Lakers: 31–17 (3rd seed)
• 3.5 games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder
• Firmly in the contender tier
Clippers: 22–24 (10th seed)
• Just 1 game back from 6th
• Only 2.5 games separate 4th–10th
• 11.5 back from OKC

Key Bench Weapons
Zion Williamson, Lu Dort, Jusuf Nurkic, Brandon Williams, Gabe Vincent

Rotation Depth
Keyonte George, Trey Murphy III, John Collins, Jordan Hawkins, AJ Johnson