LA Clippers take first battle of Tinseltown; 3 takeaways

The LA Clippers came away with a convincing victory over their hometown rival Los Angeles Lakers 112-102. Here are 3 takeaways from the 2019-20 season opener.

The LA Clippers began a new era for their franchise Tuesday night with a hard-fought win over the rival LA Lakers 112-102. Although both teams are still feeling out their rosters to determine what works best, the Clippers managed to find balance with a solid all-around team performance.

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If this was a preview of what’s to come between these two teams, the battle for L.A. will be an instant classic affair all season.

Few opening games spark the attention of an entire nation like what was witnessed tonight. An excited Staples Center crowd cheered for the Clippers and Lakers before, during and after the matchup was decided. This truly had all the elements of a playoff game that neither squad wanted to lose.

The Lakers took an early lead behind the scoring and play-making ability of LeBron James, while Kawhi Leonard struggled early in the quarter. Anthony Davis also got off to a quick start as he took advantage of lesser athletes in the painted area. Danny Green was on fire most of the game, connecting on multiple perimeter shots with uncanny precision.

The Clippers starting lineup couldn’t find any rhythm in their offense and it appeared as though the game might get away from them early, but coach Doc Rivers kept his team poised and made all the necessary adjustments to turn the tide in favor of his squad.

This was a major step in the right direction for the Clippers and a notice to the rest of the league considering All-Star Paul George is still in street clothes.

There is always room for improvement and 81 more regular season games left to figure out the perfect recipe for success in the Western Conference. However, the pros far outweighed the cons in this eye-opening debut performance. Here are three takeaways from the 2019-20 season opener for the LA Clippers.

3. Lou Williams had his way with the Lakers defense

Combo guard Lou Williams is notorious for carving up defenses with his elusive ball-handling skills and smooth shooting touch from all areas of the court. When the LA Clippers fell behind early in the contest, Williams’ offense was just what the doctor ordered while Kawhi Leonard attempted to find his groove within the flow of the game.

He not only carried his team through tough offensive patches, Williams also set up teammates for high percentage shots around the basket and behind the arc.

Finishing the game with 21 points, five rebounds and seven assists in 37 minutes speaks to the all-around impact Williams had on the game as soon as he touched the floor. It didn’t matter who accepted the defensive challenge, Williams either shot over them or went around them.

His signature shot of the night would have to be a deep 3-pointer from the left-wing while fading out of bounds.

Williams looks ready to go after another Sixth Man of the Year award and I wouldn’t bet on anybody taking it from him. It’s rare that you find a player of his caliber that is willing to come off the bench for the sake of the team. Williams is a true professional and a player the LA Clippers can rely on whenever they need somebody to put points on the board.

2. Kawhi Leonard won the battle of LA superstars

Despite a slow start, it was business as usual for the 2018-19 NBA champion and Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Deep range shots, post up fadeaways and mid-range jumpers were all on display for both L.A. fan bases to marvel at.

With a stat line consisting of 30 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in 32 minutes, it’s no surprise that Leonard is already in the MVP discussion for this season.

Even with those impressive numbers it was the defense played on LeBron James that made all the difference in the world. Leonard wore James down over the course of the game with his long arms and superior foot speed. All the energy and aggression the Lakers played with in the first half became surprisingly absent when the fourth quarter came around.

Leonard did everything coach Doc Rivers asked of him and more with a roster that didn’t have two superstar players available, shouldn’t be able to rebound and didn’t have nearly as much to prove as their L.A. counterparts. His presence as a defensive anchor in on-ball situations or off-ball help scenarios keep opponents constantly guessing for the right answers.

And to think the LA Clippers will create even more problems for opposing offenses when Paul George comes back 100 percent in the coming weeks.

1. There is no substitute for 100 percent effort

When the LA Clippers are evaluated in comparison to other NBA teams, it’s very difficult to gauge effort from top to bottom. Each team is made up of individuals who may or may not share a like-minded goal to play as a team when they hit the court. All teams aren’t created equal in this regard and that’s exactly why the Clippers won going away against the Lakers.

Patrick Beverley wanted this game more than anybody in a Lakers uniform. The same goes for Maurice Harkless, who showed plenty of defensive versatility from playing passing lanes on the perimeter to fronting Anthony Davis and causing multiple turnovers. Montrezl Harrell didn’t care that he was surrounded by taller players who might block his shot.

Without Danny Green having one of the best games in his career, we’d probably all be scratching our heads wondering what just happened. LeBron James and Anthony Davis were almost completely absent in the fourth quarter while the LA Clippers seemed ready to run it back again just to prove their point.

Your shots may not always fall in the NBA, but if you keep your opponent from making shots you’re never out of contention.

There are two teams in Los Angeles that want to take home the NBA’s highest award at the end of this season. The LA Clippers proved they are willing to do what it takes to make that happen and there is no matchup they will run from.