Make no mistake. When the Lakers face the Clippers today, they will be complete. It isn’t simply because they’re bent on arresting the only losing streak they’ve had since the start of the 2019–20 season; precisely because of their championship aspirations, they can’t be too happy they’re mired in a three-game skein that’s as much a reflection of bad timing as of their intrinsic deficiencies. More importantly, it’s due to their desire to make a statement at the expense of their fellow Staples Center tenants. And so they will “host” the set-to with All-Stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis on tap, ailments that make them legitimate candidates for load management notwithstanding.
To be sure, the Lakers can arguably deem any match a homecourt outing. They’re invariably well represented on the road; their equity in the National Basketball Association remained evident during their down years in recent memory, and is even more pronounced with James and Davis now leading the charge. At home, their advantage becomes magnified; they know Los Angeles is their town no matter how the Clippers do. Which is why Staples Center will be rocking in purple and gold today, and why the vibe will decidedly be theirs to command.
Not that the Clippers care. For the longest time, they’ve operated with chips on their shoulders. In fact, they know exactly how to forge ahead with an us-versus-the-world mentality, with their stalwarts embracing it as motivation to overachieve and exert not inconsiderable effort on both ends of the court. And, truth be told, they can’t but be deemed the favorites today — if for no other reason than because they have complementary pieces. The Lakers have superior potential, but whether or not it will — or even can — be met is another matter altogether.
Which is to say conventional wisdom has the Clippers prevailing; from Kawhi Leonard to Paul George to Lou Williams to Montrezl Harrell to Patrick Beverley, they will just keep on coming. Because the Lakers have James and Davis (and, yes, the crowd), though, there can be no gauging the outcome. Christmas Day games have been hit and miss of late, but not this one — even when nothing but pride seems to be at stake.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing the Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
