L.A. Clippers
Overall Record: 22-10
Head to Head Matchups: 0
Eye Test: The L.A. Clippers are one of the best teams in the league, talent-wise and even if their record doesn’t say so. If it weren’t for the dreaded load management, they would have one of the best records in the league.
Although Kawhi Leonard has looked vulnerable at times, see Kawhi’s latest matchup against James Harden or lack thereof of desire to have said matchup, he is still the man. As the great Ric Flair says, “in order to be the man, you have to beat the man”, and Kawhi is definitely that.
Having Paul Goerge by your side is also nothing to sneeze at. The Miami Heat haven’t had the opportunity to match up against this L.A. team just yet, but you would have to favor this Clipper team going in and providing that everyone played. We will get a chance to see it on the 24th of January and we can’t wait!
L.A. Lakers
Overall Record: 24-6
Head to Head Matchups: 2 (Lakers 110-113, Lakers 80-95)
Eye Test: The Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers have matched up twice this season and the Heat just can’t seem to crack the code. It all boils down to the bigs of the Miami Heat being owned by the bigs of the Lakers.
Although the games were almost of the complete and polar opposite varieties scoring-wise, the Miami Heat lost the rebounding battle in both games by more than 10 boards. They can beat the Lakers but they just need to be better on the glass when they face them, as with a few other games this season, rebounding has killed them in their matchups this season.