The instrumental track behind one of Los Angeles’ biggest songs played over the Intuit Dome’s top-of-the-line sound system late in the first half — a fitting tune for what had been happening on the court.
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” wasn’t aimed at the Lakers, and he didn’t even need to rap the chorus for the point to be made clear.
The Clippers, with all their strengths, have turned out to be one of the surprises of the NBA season. Meanwhile, the Lakers continue to struggle with problems they haven’t been able to solve, and without major roster changes, these issues may continue to hold them back.
Defensive pressure across the court? The Lakers don’t bring that. Consistent toughness and size? The Clippers have it.
A clear offensive identity and team commitment? The Lakers lack that too. “I consider them a great team,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
The scoreboard showed the clear difference during the Clippers’ 116-102 win on Sunday, their first matchup of the season.
The Lakers have higher expectations due to their star players and moves they’ve made on the trade market, but the Clippers played on Sunday with the confidence of a team that knows who they are and what they want.
The best basketball from the Clippers came when the game was nearly decided. Late in the third quarter, with a “Let’s go Lakers” chant ringing out in a crowd mostly cheering for the Clippers, the Lakers made a push, cutting a 26-point lead down to 11.
However, LeBron James, who had been leading the charge during that stretch, missed three easy shots at the basket when the Lakers needed to be perfect to truly have a shot at a comeback.
They weren’t perfect.
James led the Lakers (22-18) with 25 points and 11 assists, while Rui Hachimura added 19 points. But no other Lakers player stepped up offensively, including Anthony Davis, who finished with 16 points on 5-of-14 shooting. Austin Reaves had 14 points but only created six shots. He also hobbled off the court after appearing to injure his knee while fighting for a rebound in the fourth quarter.
Reaves said he expected to be fine.
The Lakers’ weaknesses were clear. They tried to stop Ivica Zubac from dominating the paint, but the former Laker took advantage of their lack of size, finishing with 21 points and 19 rebounds. The Lakers need more playmaking help for Reaves and James, as the two primary ball handlers each accounted for five of the Lakers’ 17 turnovers.
They also need more defensive toughness to make it harder for teams like the Clippers, who score from the perimeter, to shoot nearly 53%.
“They capitalized off our turnovers and mistakes defensively,” James said. “It’s a great team. Very well coached. Hall of Famers, great complementary players, Norm Powell having a great season, Big Zu, big time…
“You know, when you’re playing against a great team, you gotta limit your mistakes, offensively and defensively. ‘Cause they make you pay, and I think they did that tonight.”
As for the Clippers, many believe they won’t make any big moves at the trade deadline, despite having players that other NBA teams want. Their main focus will be reintegrating Kawhi Leonard as they try to keep him healthy for the rest of the season.
Leonard played 24 minutes and 17 seconds — his most this season — as he continues to recover from knee problems that have bothered him throughout his time with the Clippers. He scored 19 points on just 13 shots, including three assists early in the first quarter to help set the tone for the Clippers.
“We knew coming into the season that we can be great defensively and that’s going to give us a chance every night. That’s what we have been doing all year along,” Zubac said. “Kawhi is getting back. He’s being aggressive. He’s looking good and when the minutes restrictions goes away, we’re going to be a tough team to beat.”
Powell finished with 22 points, and James Harden had 21 points and 12 assists for the Clippers (24-17).
The Clippers’ schedule could take some shine off their recent dominance, as they’ve won their last three games by an average of 34 points. They will play five times this week due to schedule changes after wildfire postponements.
The Lakers, on the other hand, have two more games at home before starting their annual Grammy road trip, with games against Washington on Tuesday and the Celtics on Thursday.
“I think we are growing and we all know that during the growth process you have some bumps and that’s OK,” Redick said. “That’s OK. … We’re together and we’re connected certainly more times than not. And we’ll continue to grow and build. But there was some good stuff tonight.”
The Lakers are not where they want to be, especially when it comes to establishing a consistent identity. When facing a team like the Clippers, who know exactly what they stand for, the differences are clear.
