NBA Predictions: December 21st updated 2020-21 NBA win total projections
By Duncan Smith
Los Angeles Lakers
Projected wins: 50
Western Conference standings: 1st
The Los Angeles Lakers are the cream of the crop in the NBA’s best conference. They’re the defending champions and they have LeBron James and Anthony Davis (presumably; as of this writing he has still not re-signed with the Lakers). They poached Montrezl Harrell from the LA Clippers and Wesley Matthews from the Milwaukee Bucks, but they lost Avery Bradley to the Miami Heat in free agency. They also added Dennis Schroder and Marc Gasol this offseason. The Lakers are a team reloaded and ready to defend their title.
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LA Clippers
Projected wins: 46
Western Conference standings: 3rd
The LA Clippers had quite an interesting offseason themselves. They lost Montrezl Harrell and Landry Shamet, but they acquired Serge Ibaka and Luke Kennard AND got the Detroit Pistons to throw four second-round picks into the deal as a sweetener. They also swapped out Doc Rivers at head coach for Ty Lue, and after Doc’s repeated playoff failures, it’s not hard to see that as a step up. What matters most is that the Clippers still have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and as always, they’ll go about as far as that duo can carry them in the playoffs.