Game-Time Chat: Lakers @ Clippers

I am dreading this game. The Battle for Los Angeles, as the media has dubbed it, will be without Kobe Bryant or Chris Paul and it almost feels irrelevant, given the standings. Both teams are undermanned at the moment, however the Lakers are dangerously close to the limit, whereas the Clippers are missing Paul, JJ Redick and Reggie Bullock; they still have most of their rotation in tact. It certainly helps the team to have Darren Collison and Jamal Crawford as replacements for Paul and Redick. Bullock was barely playing 10 minutes a game, so I don't think the Clippers miss him too much.

So, why am I dreading this game? Blake Griffin. The 24 year old Griffin has absolutely steam rolled most of the league, averaging 22.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game; superb numbers out of the freakishly athletic power forward. Griffin is second on the Clippers in WS/48 (.182) and PER (21.7), and he hasn't struggled sans Paul because of his improved overall game. The numbers are similar to years' past, however Griffin's shooting stroke is much, much improved. He's at a career high in free throw percentage (70.2%) and three point percentage (35.0%), so past tactics of letting Griffin shoot and/or hacking him won't work as effectively. Griffin's shooting percentage from 16 feet to the three point line has improved considerably; he's shooting 40% from that range, compared to last season's 34%. Here are his shot charts:

2013-14:

2012-2013:

Red is below league average, yellow is league average and green is above league average. As you can see, Griffin has effectively extended his range all the way out to the three point line (granted, there's a small sample size for the three pointers Griffin takes). Last season, Griffin was above average in one spot only: below the rim. This season, he's above average in six areas of the court, and has cut down his below average areas considerably; last year's was whopping nine areas below average, this year it's only five. When you couple Griffin's past games against Pau Gasol and the Lakers, where he averages 20 points and 10 rebounds in 12 career games, you'll know why I do not like this match up one bit.

It doesn't help all of the times Griffin has basically jumped over Gasol:

Another reminder that Blake Griffin is a freak of nature

Pau simply got demolished. 

When you add Griffin being a Top-5 power forward with the Clippers being 7th in Offensive Rating (108.5) and 8th in Defensive Rating (103.2) while still being 4th in rebounding and 3rd in assists, you can see why this game is a huge mismatch, heavily in the Clippers favor. Between Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, the Clippers have the size, bulk and athleticism to completely demolish the Lakers in the paint. This will not be a fun game, unless you're a Clippers fan, or the Lakers manage to limit the Clippers fast break opportunities, limit their own turnovers while simultaneously trying to create fast break points. The Lakers will need to make it rain from deep to give themselves a good opportunity to win. The good news here is that the Lakers have already beaten the Clippers this year. The bad news is that it was with almost an entirely different cast of Lakers.