The Los Angeles Lakers, who have the third seed in the Western Conference, arguably have the best superstar duo in the NBA right now in LeBron James and Luka Doncic. They also have a legitimate “Big Three” with guard Austin Reaves playing at an All-Star level, and as a result, they’re considered by many to be legitimate championship contenders.
But with the playoffs about to start, not everyone is feeling bullish about the Lakers. There are some who expect them to fall to the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team that boasts lots of its size on its frontline and explosive superstar guard Anthony Edwards, in the first round. In fact, one man doesn’t even think James and Doncic are the best duo in the West.
Former NBA player Jeff Teague said on an episode of the “Club 520 Podcast” that he favors the Los Angeles Clippers‘ duo of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden over James and Doncic (h/t Fadeaway World).
“I like that duo (Harden and Kawhi) beating Bron and Luka. Bron’s 50! Kawhi can guard Luka. James and Luka cancel each other out. Obviously, Luka is better because he’s younger and can do more. They can get you similar stats… Well, Playoff Kawhi vs. 40-year-old LeBron? I’m rolling with Kawhi!”
Leonard remains a great player in his own right, but his average of 21.5 points a game is below par for him, and he may not be the consistent defensive force he used to be. Injuries have arguably taken a toll on him, and he appeared in just 37 games this season.
Harden put up 22.8 points and 8.7 assists a game this season, but he shot just 41% from the field and turned the basketball over 4.3 times a contest. He has a checkered playoff history, and his poor performances in elimination games are well-documented. Harden shooting poorly in a must-win playoff game is about as predictable as roosters crowing at the crack of dawn.
Thanks to a late-season surge, the Clippers finished with the fifth-best record in the West and will face the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. But those hoping for that long-awaited Lakers-Clippers postseason matchup shouldn’t hold their breath — for one to happen this spring, the Clippers would have to defeat the Nuggets and then, in all likelihood, the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
The Lakers, who will play the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies in the second round should they get there, have an easier path to the Western Conference Finals.
