5 Things to Watch Out For as Los Angeles Lakers take on LA Clippers in Pre-Season Opener

City rivals Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers take on each other in a pre-season clash. The 2021 season is right ahead and the reigning champs would look to get the better of their opponents, but it won’t be straightforward. Here are the prominent factors to look into as the two LA-based teams get ready to lock horns on Friday. 

It has been declared by Lakers head coach Frank Vogel that the superstar duo LeBron James and Anthony Davis will not play against the Clippers. They’ve had a very short offseason, which has allowed Vogel to provide them an extended break. 

What to look out for as the Los Angeles Lakers play the LA Clippers

The Staples Center will host the game without any fans in attendance. But everyone would be thrilled to witness the Lakers and Clippers battle it out. 

They’re the prime contenders to clinch the 2021 championship, and the pre-season fixture is just a glimpse of the intensity we’ll be witnessing during the regular-season.

• Paul George – Key Player for the Clippers

Kawhi Leonard is considered to be the main man in the Clips’ team, but Paul George is fresh off a contract extension with the franchise. He signed a massive five-year deal worth $226 million and is ready to prove his doubters wrong. 

George is coming off a difficult offseason as they failed to impress during the 2020 playoffs. PG has issued a word of caution ahead of the 2021 season and this pre-season fixture against eternal rivals LA Lakers will have him fired up. 

George will be under limited minutes as it is a relaxed fixture, but the 30-year-old would look to make the most of his time on the court. 

• Tyronn Lue’s first taste of being a head coach in LA 

The Clippers have a new head coach in Tyronn Lue, as a  result of the team firing Doc Rivers after their playoff exit. Lue is an extremely capable coach who has won the championship as the HC of the Cavaliers in 2016. 

However, this will be a new test in managing players like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and how he uses them during pre-season. Lue knows the pressure that comes along with coaching a top team like the Clippers, and a winning start would certainly aid his confidence. 

• The depth of the Lakers bench running the show

LeBron and AD won’t be playing against the Clippers, which means Frank Vogel has a lot of freedom to offer to his reserve players. It is the perfect time to give the young guys a chance at proving themselves. 

Promising talents like Talen Horton-Tucker and Kostas Antetokounmpo will be given more minutes in the absence of prominent starters. One can certainly expect them to step up and prove their mettle when the chance arrives. 

• Dennis Schroder as the starting PG 

Newly acquired point guard Dennis Schroder is the talk of the town. He is immensely talented and finished second in the 2020 Sixth Man of the Year voting. However, Schroder has since expressed that he is ready to take up a starting role with the Lakers. 

With the absence of James, this will be the perfect opportunity for the German international. If given starting duties, Schroder will be keen to go out and fill in for the absentees. 

• Montrezl Harrell facing his former team

Montrezl Harrell has been sensational for the past couple of years. He seems to be unguardable in the paint, and his defensive efforts create problems for opponents. Harrell pipped Schroder to the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2020, and the Lakers now have both of them on their team. 

Friday’s game will indeed be a challenging one for Harrell as he goes up against his former team, LA Clippers. The 26-year-old stirred up quite a few debates by snubbing the Clippers and joining the Lakers instead. 

Furthermore, the welcome will be cold when he greets his former teammates, but Harrell is a tough nut to crack. He is expected to go all guns blazing when he suits up in purple and gold for the first time. 

Expected Starting Lineups

Los Angeles Lakers – Dennis Schroder, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, and Marc Gasol.

LA Clippers – Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Serge Ibaka.