Well, Darvin Ham will be happy with the commentary of the game. After his fiery comments about the Lakers faithful faced severe backlash, his team was able to pull out the win against city rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers. However, the conversation would quickly turn from Ham’s subpar coaching to one fatal flaw with the Clippers roster. Los Angeles Lakers legend Derek Fisher was quick to point the finger at that being the reason for their defeat at the hands of LeBron James and the Lakers.

During the Spectrum SportsNet postgame show, Fisher would explain his ideology. “The Clippers being a heavy isolation team, Paul George using the dribble a lot, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden.” That pace would favor the 17x NBA Champions with their defensive schemes.

“It really allowed the Lakers to set their defense…Use their size on the backside. Anthony Davis hovering in the middle of the paint. So, this works out really well for the Lakers.” Fisher further pointed out that the Lakers wouldn’t mind facing the Clippers when the chips are down.

“This is a matchup that, as the season moves on, I think this is a team that the Lakers would love to see later on. Because the style of play that the Clippers put out, I think it allows the Lakers to be physical and use that high-level defense that they have in order to get wins.” Just looking at the game, the truth of the 5x NBA Champion’s words is apparent.

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Perhaps Ham’s job is safe for now. But, can the Lakers continue like this?

A step in the right direction or a matchup advantage for LeBron James and the Lakers?

The game was getting out of hand for the Clippers in the 4th quarter, with LAL enjoying a 10-point lead. That was one of the primary questions when the NBA’s latest team became a reality. All 3 – PG, Kawhi, and The Beard, excel as isolation scorers with the ball in their hands.

As a result, could a movement-less offense sustain itself? Or would the lack of ball and player movement hurt the team in the long run? The answer, for the most part, has been a mixed bag. Since the trade, the team has been scorching hot, barring a rough opening week. But, against a stout defensive team, they faltered.

When the Lakers made their run, including a “dunk of the century” candidate, it was their defense that was the engine. But what turned the situation around for Ty Lue’s boys was the injection of pace via Normal Powell.

On the Lakers side, was it just a lucky matchup? Or, has the team finally found its In-Season Tournament groove again after faltering throughout December? This game was a “step in the right direction”, or are bigger changes necessary? A Playoff series between the two LA rivals will certainly be fireworks.

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