After ten games of the 2024/25 NBA season, both LA teams can look at the job they have done so far and be fairly happy with things.
Both the Lakers and Clippers went 6-4 after ten games, and both have improved on last season’s starts (the Clippers went 3-7 in the opening 10 of last season; the Lakers went 5-5).
Yet, it’s worth noting that the Western Conference looks tight – incredibly so. After ten games, the top ten teams in the Western Conference all had winning records.
By comparison, only the top two in the Eastern Conference did. There was a consensus preseason that the West had more depth than the East, and that seems to be bearing out.
For the Clippers and Lakers, it means that it is going to be tough to make the Playoffs.
Ideally, both teams would finish in the top 6, going straight to the Playoffs, as nobody will want to navigate the lottery of the Play-In Tournament, but there is just so much quality across the conference.
Suns, Thunder, & Warriors Leading the Charge
At the top of the standings, the Suns, Thunder & Warriors have been a dream for NBA spreads bettors, and the Nuggets and Grizzlies have also found their feet quickly. Things haven’t always gone smoothly for the Mavericks, but they will be in the mix come the end of the season. The Timberwolves also look good, and there is reason for optimism for fans of the Kings and Rockets.
In short, there are a lot of good teams in the Western Conference. The Lakers are still fancied to make the Playoffs, with odds of -190 at the time of writing. The Clippers are put in the “maybe” pile by sportsbooks, coming in at +200. Still, we could easily see a scenario where the reverse happens, with the Clippers making the Playoffs and the Lakers missing out.
So, what needs to go right for the LA teams? For the Lakers, it is a question of getting some consistency and keeping their veteran stars healthy. The Bronny James story was probably a distraction that the team didn’t need, and his move to the G-League will suit him and the Lakers well. Anthony Davis looks great, as usual, but there are worries about D’Angelo Russell. Overall, the defense has been fairly turgid, and things will need to change quickly if the Lakers are to be considered a serious contender this season.
The Clippers Have Been Better than Expected
As for the Clippers, there’s been plenty to be cheerful about. They were certainly the least fancied of the two LA teams in preseason, but the form of James Harden has gone some way to cushioning the blow of Kawhi Leonard’s absence.
Norman Powell and Ivica Zubic have also been impressive. There’s a long way to go, but the Clippers have been better than expected.
The Clippers were projected to win 36 games this season, and we could easily see them eclipse that.
The bottom line remains, though: There are definitely six teams – the Nuggets, Mavericks, Suns, Thunder, Timberwolves, and Grizzlies – with a higher potential ceiling than the Lakers and Clippers.
And then you have a couple of teams, including the Warriors, Kings, and Rockets, who have been doing better than expected. It looks like it will be tight, but that doesn’t mean we should rule out either of the LA teams going to the Playoffs.
If the season ended today, they’d both be there. It’s just a matter of carrying that all the way through to the spring.
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