Lakers vs. Clippers: Who has the edge at each position?
Point Guard
The Lakers made a bold move to upgrade their options at the point by swinging a deal for Dennis Schroder. He gives Frank Vogel another player capable of creating his own shot on the perimeter. That’s going to be huge for the Lakers in the regular season.
Alex Caruso isn’t the flashiest backup in the league, but he’s still going to get a healthy amount of playing time because of his keen understanding of how to thrive alongside James and Davis. Don’t be shocked if he gets more playing time with the starting give than Schroder on a lot of nights.
The Clippers appear set to run things back with some combination of Patrick Beverley and Lou Williams at the point. Both are talented, but imperfect options for Tyronn Lue. Beverley is an excellent defender who can stretch the floor with his catch-and-shoot ability. The downside to his game is that he isn’t a quality creator or pick-and-roll option.
Williams is a microwave scorer who can really unlock his team’s offense, but he’s also a below-average defender, at best. It’s hard for the Clippers to field an elite defensive unit when he’s on the floor.
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The lack of a superstar on either side of the ledger makes this the most difficult position battle to evaluate. Schroder is the best offensive player, but he hasn’t proven he can really help an elite team win at a high level. Even so, his upside is superior to anything the Clippers can proffer. Chalk this up as a very slight edge for the Lakers.
Edge: Lakers win this by a whisker