The finished games and the seed games are finally ready to start. For the Los Angeles Lakers, this means a showdown with the other Western Conference favorite and their biggest rival, the LA Clippers.
The Clippers won the first two games head-to-head, but Frank Vogel’s team solved it in the last matchup, and all eyes will be on this contest. The Clippers are one of the few teams with a duo comparable to the LaBright All-Stars of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Kawhi Leonard is the reigning MVP of the NBA Finals, while Paul George is one of the best two-way players in the league and is highly experienced in the playoffs. With the first night of games counting, the intensity will increase dramatically.
“It is the first of the planting games, and our mission with these eight games is to prepare for the playoffs and be as healthy as possible,” said Vogel. “We have great respect for their organization and the team they formed. They are one of the best teams in the league. More than anything, I think it will be a great measure of where we are.
“Obviously, we still have a long way to go until we are ready for the playoffs. They don’t sharpen as well against teams of minor opponents as they would against a great team. It will definitely be a good test for us. “
The Lakers will definitely have a bit of a lead on paper, as the Clippers will lose their two outstanding reserves with Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell in the competition. But even without them, Vogel understands that this game will show exactly where the Lakers are.
Vogel still has things to figure out, especially when it comes to his rotation and figuring out the best lineups that work together. Obviously, the most important thing for the Lakers is to be healthy when the playoffs begin, but there is no doubt that Frank Vogel and the rest of the team want to send a message in this first game.
McGee believes the Lakers are 80%
The meeting between the Lakers and the Clippers will be the big showdown on the first night of the seed games. Every time these teams have met this season it has had the intensity of a playoff matchup, and Thursday doesn’t seem to be any different.
While these seed games are important, the Lakers will also use them to get back in shape before the playoffs begin. JaVale McGee believes they are close, but not yet 100%.
“I feel like we are 80%. We still have to play real games with real lineups and everyone playing real minutes, “said McGee.
“I feel like that’s what these eight games are for, to prepare us for a strong playoff momentum. I am really excited about that. Everyone is excited, everyone is motivated, everyone is in the gym two days a day and takes care of their bodies. Everyone is really focused. “
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