For the second game on our opening night TNT schedule, we have the world champion Los Angeles Lakers dueling against the cross-hallway rival Los Angeles Clippers at 10:00 p.m. ET.
It’s a celebration at the Staples Center on Tuesday night! The Lakers, 71 days removed from their 17th time hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy atop their heads back in the bubble, have their ring ceremony tonight, and while they’ve decided not to have the unveiling of the 17th championship banner until fans pack ol’ Staples (and who knows when that’ll be), the joy of holding the title of “franchise tied with the most gold” will feel just as good to say, even if Lakers fans won’t be in person at their season opener to say it.
Just like any other ring ceremony game, the visiting Clippers are looking to play spoiler. What started out as the joining of a roster that had immediate championship aspirations, turned into a vile collapse during the Western Conference semifinal as they blew a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George begin a season of redemption, and proving they can still hang with a team they beat twice last year with what’s now considered an “upset” win against the Lakers tonight.
This next iteration of the Battle of Los Angeles will feature some new faces in new places. A first: reigning Sixth man of the Year Montrezl Harrell will be on an LA sideline, just not the one you’ve come to expect. After contract talks between him, Jerry West, Steve Ballmer broke down, the Louisville product will be donning Laker purple and gold. Another thing of note, 6MOTY runner-up Dennis Schroder is going to be a Laker as well, as Rob Pelinka made sure to add some outside shooting and crafty ballhandling in the offseason. Wesley Matthews (picked up off the bi-annual exception) adds perimeter defense and accurate shooting from deep.
The Clips may have lost a few pieces in Harrell and Landry Shamet (sent to Brooklyn) and lost their head coach (Doc Rivers was hired by Daryl Morey in Philadelphia) but they’re just as dangerous with the tandem of PG13 and the Klaw. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are the big favorites to repeat as champs, but that doesn’t mean their trip back to the NBA Finals will be a cakewalk. Not in the slightest.
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