The Lakers have stormed out of the gate to an 11-4 record which is good for first in the Western Conference. While they let a 19-point lead slip through their hands in the eventual 115-113 loss to the Golden State Warriors, they’ve shown that last season was no fluke. They’re set on repeating and NBA Champions and they don’t care who they have to go through to accomplish just that.
When the season started, the Clippers were brought up as a threat to the Lakers’ chances. Even though they failed to make it out of the Conference Semifinals, they still boast a considerable amount of talent led by Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. However, longtime Laker fan Snoop Dogg himself, who despises the Clippers, dismissed the city rivals after their opening night win.
“Laker to a Clipper? Man, I can’t be faded. Come on, man, we’re talking about the Clippers. The team that has zero banners that are the opening night champions for 14 years straight have no banners, no nothing.”
Yesterday my man @SnoopDogg told me as a Lakers fan, he's NEVER been nervous about the Clippers!
Stream Stephen A's World on ESPN+ https://t.co/J4YbwYZCBA pic.twitter.com/8N5gLEDeTp
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) January 12, 2021
Related: Lakers’ Three Biggest Threats in the Western Conference This Season
After recent events, the Clippers are no longer the only threat the Lakers may have to worry about. The Brooklyn Nets now boast the best team in the East after trading for James Harden. The trio of Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving seems like a nightmare to many fans. Yet, when asked by Stephen A. Smith about whether or not he’s intimidated by the new threat, Ice Cube denied any such feelings.
“We ain’t worried about nothing. Won that championship last year, and planning on going back-to-back. If we got to go through Brooklyn, or if anybody else just step up, I’m putting my money on the Lakers. We ain’t worried about nothing.”
"I'm putting my money on the Lakers, we ain't worried about nothing."@IceCube says the Nets don't scare him ➡️ https://t.co/XHeDrfPc5H pic.twitter.com/gVxW8qOqk9
— ESPN (@espn) January 19, 2021
Related: Lakers Remain Atop NBA Power Rankings as Clippers Fall Out of Top 5
I believe Snoop and Ice Cube have the right idea. While both teams possess the ability and talent to challenge the Lakers in the playoffs, Los Angeles has been on another level this season. The Clippers couldn’t even make it past a young Denver Nuggets team last postseason and the Nets had to acquire a third star to even be considered a threat. They all have to go through the Lakers if they truly want to be recognized.
