Lakers Look to Take Down Clippers Again

The Los Angeles Lakers are back in action Wednesday night as they prepare for another showdown against their crosstown rivals, the LA Clippers, at Intuit Dome.

After defeating the Clippers 125-117 in their first meeting of the season, the Lakers have an opportunity to make it two straight against their little brothers and continue building momentum early in the new campaign.

The Lakers enter the matchup with a healthier roster than their opponents, as the Clippers are dealing with several significant absences that have limited their offensive firepower.

With Austin Reaves leading the charge, Los Angeles should feel confident about its chances of securing another victory.

However, there is one player the Lakers absolutely cannot afford to let take over Wednesday’s matchup: Darius Garland.

Keeping Darius Garland Under Control

If there is one thing the Lakers need to prioritize defensively against the Clippers, it’s containing Darius Garland.

With several key offensive contributors sidelined, Garland has become the focal point of the Clippers’ offense, taking on increased responsibility as both a scorer and facilitator.

The two-time All-Star is more than capable of taking over a game with his outside shooting, ability to create separation, and impressive playmaking.

Garland opened the season with a 30-point performance against Sacramento, demonstrating just how dangerous he can be when he finds his rhythm.

The Lakers cannot allow him to get comfortable early. Whether that means applying additional pressure at the point of attack, forcing the ball out of his hands, or making him work for every opportunity, JJ Redick needs to make Garland’s night as difficult as possible.

More importantly, Los Angeles cannot become so focused on preventing Garland from scoring that it allows him to pick apart the defense with his passing.

His ability to create opportunities for teammates is just as dangerous as his scoring.

With Bradley Beal, Brandon Ingram, and several other Clippers unavailable, limiting Garland’s offensive production should go a long way toward disrupting their entire offensive game plan.

If the Lakers can prevent him from finding a rhythm as both a scorer and facilitator, they should be in an excellent position to control this matchup.

Austin Reaves Must Set the Tone

On the other side of the floor, the Lakers have a significant advantage when it comes to offensive creation.

Reaves will be running the show with Luka Doncic out and will need to generate quality looks for themselves and their teammates on virtually every possession.

The Clippers certainly have capable perimeter defenders, including Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr., but containing Reaves for an entire game is a difficult assignment.

Reaves was particularly impressive in the teams’ first meeting, finishing with 28 points and providing the offensive production Los Angeles needed.

That performance demonstrated just how valuable having multiple offensive creators can be.

The Lakers should look to establish their offensive rhythm early, moving the ball and attacking mismatches rather than settling for difficult isolation possessions.

If Reaves is aggressive from the opening tip, the Clippers could find themselves struggling to keep pace offensively.

Clippers Enter the Matchup Severely Shorthanded

Injuries will play a significant role in Wednesday’s matchup, particularly for the Clippers.

Los Angeles will be without several important contributors, including Bradley Beal and Brandon Ingram, two players who would otherwise provide valuable scoring and shot creation.

Former Laker Rui Hachimura has also been ruled out with left quad soreness, removing another offensive option from the Clippers’ rotation.

With the Clippers missing multiple offensive contributors, the Lakers should have an opportunity to dictate the pace of the game.

However, overlooking a shorthanded opponent is never a recipe for success.

The Clippers still have capable players who can make things difficult, and Ty Lue will undoubtedly have his team prepared to compete.

Taking Advantage of the Frontcourt Matchup

Another area where the Lakers should look to establish themselves is in the paint.

Walker Kessler gives Los Angeles a legitimate interior presence capable of impacting the game through rebounding, rim protection, and efficient finishing around the basket.

Against a Clippers frontcourt featuring Brook Lopez and Isaiah Jackson, Kessler’s ability to control the glass and protect the rim could prove especially valuable.

The Lakers should make a concerted effort to attack the interior, particularly when Garland and the Clippers’ perimeter defenders become overly aggressive.

Reaves is excellent at creating opportunities for LA’s big men, and Kessler should benefit from their ability to collapse opposing defenses.

Defensively, controlling the boards will be equally important.

The last thing Los Angeles wants is to give a shorthanded Clippers team additional possessions through offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities.

Winning the rebounding battle would help the Lakers control the tempo while limiting the Clippers’ opportunities to generate easy points.

The Bottom Line

The Lakers have a great opportunity to secure another victory over their crosstown rivals Wednesday night.

With the Clippers missing several key contributors, Los Angeles should enter the matchup confident in its ability to dictate the game on both ends of the floor.

But the biggest key to victory remains relatively simple.

Don’t let Darius Garland take over.

If the Lakers can limit his scoring opportunities, prevent him from consistently creating easy looks for teammates, and force the Clippers’ supporting cast to generate offense independently, they should have a clear advantage.

Offensively, Reaves needs to continue establishing themselves as one of the league’s most dangerous backcourt combinations, while Kessler provides the interior presence necessary to control the paint.

The Lakers have the talent, depth, and offensive firepower to win this game.

Now it’s about executing.

The Lakers and Clippers tip off Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. PT at Intuit Dome.