Coming in at number 1 is the Los Angeles Lakers. Recent play isn’t the only thing that matters around here, but there’s no denying the top spot to a team that just cut down two of the league’s top title threats in the same week. The Lakers put the clamps on Antetokounmpo and the Bucks on Friday, resurrecting memories of Milwaukee’s scoring struggles in last year’s postseason against the Raptors. Then, in a hotly contested game on Sunday, LeBron James and Anthony Davis helped the Lakers become the first team to beat the fully healthy Clippers this season. The focused Lakers took down elite competition with defense and star-driven scoring, getting terrific chip-in efforts. James, in particular, set the tone for his team by taking on the challenge of guarding Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard more often than he normally would in the regular season. He and the Lakers clearly viewed tilts against Milwaukee and the other L.A. outfit as message-sending opportunities. Message received: The Lakers are the best team
Number 2 on the list is the Los Angeles Clippers. The more looks we get at the full-strength Clippers, the harder it is to find any weaknesses. Capable of creating massive lineups with switchable wings and the 6’9″ Paul George at shooting guard or shifting into like-sized small-ball units, the Clips can transform like few other teams. Add to that a second unit, a motivated Reggie Jackson (whose ball-handling frees up Lou Williams to get buckets) and a bench good enough to compete with plenty of opposing starters, and there’s just no letup in this group. L.A. hammered the small-ball Rockets on Thursday to hit 10-0 with its full rotation, but it wasn’t up to the challenge presented by the focused Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, falling 112-103 to end a six-game winning streak. A win over the Lakers might even have earned the Clippers the top spot this week. Still, with the Bucks looking vulnerable for the first time all year and with convincing wins over the Nuggets, Sixers, Thunder and Rockets in the last two weeks, the Clips’ recent resume is excellent.
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