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Pacific Rim

[PACIFIC RIM]


A fierce rivalry that has spanned the past two decades. There is no love lost between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings. Since the days of Webber and O'Neal, these spiteful battles were games no team wanted to lose.



Point Guard: Aaron Brooks VS Jordan Clarkson

On paper, this one should go in favour of the Kings. Clarkson is an up and coming great guard with size, speed and versatility. Selected in the second round a few years ago, he has proven most of the league wrong in their assessment of his ability. He has just signed a new four year deal to stay with the Kings and he is a huge part of their future. He hasn’t taken full advantage of all the usage with Conley on the shelf, but maybe it can be this week. Owns season averages of around 14 points and 6 dimes. 

 

Brooks, who has been getting dem’ cheques for about a decade now, relies on quickness and offensive ability. In particular, his jumpshot. Yep, it’s pretty much all about the jumpshot, as he is too small and weak to do much else. His offensive awareness has allowed him to drop 10 dimes per game, so you could argue he is more versatile. He has been filling in for George Hill who has a sore toe (really?). In his time with the reins, he has been solid, but had a really poor week three. Will be looking to bounce back.

Clarkson FTW!





Shooting Guard: Dwyane Wade VS Klay Thompson
 

A heavyweight bout if I ever saw one. Dwyane Wade is basketball royalty. He has been so good for so long. Perennial MVP and All-Star candidate. His move to the Lakers this off-season has looked to revitalise his game and body after languishing away in the rudderless Atlanta the prior season. As a Laker, he has been able to average Wade-esque numbers of 19-4-4, but what jumps out is his fantastic efficiency. Low turnovers, high %s. He’s happy in LA LA land.

Klay Thompson is the apprentice in waiting, or was. If Dwyane Wade is considered the premier 2 guard, Klay Thompson is right there with him. Elite shooting, elite offensive awareness (cutting, running plays) and pair that with relentless defensive hustle, based on good footwork, and you have a serious baller. Thompson is arguably the best player on both ends for the Kings. He is averaging over 25 points per game and is looking like an All-Star.

This could be where the battle is won and lost, but have to go with the younger Klay.





Small Forward: Andre Iguodala VS Nicolas Batum 

The battle of the swiss army knives!

 

Iguodala is one of the most celebrated NLL players in history. Champion. Finals MVP. All-Star. Greeny’s boy. He has supreme athleticism, great defense and a solid repertoire of go to moves (layups, dunks, fadeaways and threes). As a younger player he was much more of a playmaker, but is still capable. He is a jack of all trades. Balance is a strength of the Lakers, and as their poster boy gets on in years, he has taken a back-seat a little more. His numbers don’t reflect the impact he has on this team, both spiritually and in reality.

 

Nicolas Batum is cut from much the same cloth, with versatility his calling card. He has just signed a massive multi-year deal to stay with the Kings and is locked into the small forward spot. He was seen as a great fit next to Conley and Klay, as he can be effective without the ball and a playmaker with the ball. So far this season, he has only been able to contribute 10-4-4, but it’s the things he doesn’t do that allows other Kings players to thrive.

This battle is a wash – can’t pick a winner!





Power Forward: Marvin Williams VS Dwight Powell

Marvin Williams was hand-picked by the 2K genius greenmig. He got him for just Aron Baynes and must be thrilled with the way he has responded to being a Laker. He has been red-hot from distance and provides that stretch four presence, while being a solid defender, that it seems most teams are trying to develop now. He allows the wings in Wade and Iggy to slash and drive and lets Plumlee patrol the paint. He will really take Powell out of his comfort zone on the perimeter. Williams is averaging almost 19 points and 6 rebounds a game – and is shooting 2.5 threes per game at over 50%. Wow.


You may or may not heard of Dwight Powell. If you’ve been around the NLL these past weeks you surely would have heard KLEMMELO singing his praises, and again. He is a bit raw but he can score, rebound and is very athletic, which sometimes is all a big needs to be! Each player will get theirs on each end, with Williams on the outside and Powell pounding the paint.

Marvin looks fantastic in this engine. Of course greeny found a value guy. I think he exploits this match up and gets the upper hand.





Center: Mason Plumlee vs Dewayne Dedmon

The big boys. Both players are out there for the same reasons – to rebound, to box out, to block and to finish around the rim. Dedmon is actually quite effective despite his lack of name value. Plumlee has come into his own over the last couple of years and patrolled the paint for the 2016 Championship Lakers.

Dedmon is much less experienced and is also coming off an injury, so I have to back Plumlee in to win the day.





For those of you playing at home, it’s 2-2 and a tie. Great matchups across the board.



Benches: Speights, Ginobili, Shumpert, Hawes, Brogdon VS Huertas, Green, West, Humphries

This is where Lakers make their money, their deep rotations. The Lakers boast some real scoring power coming off the bench with Speights and Ginobili being two of the better bench scorers in the NLL. Shump is a fantastic defender and Hawes will stretch the floor. Gerald Green is a renowned NLL glitch scorer and will carry most of the bench load for the Kings. West and Hump will provide grit and strength in the paint.

Lakers with the big advantage here, could be the difference.



Star

Klay Thompson

With Mike Conley on the shelf, the Kings go as Klay goes. He is one of the best shooters of the past decade and is still improving. He is one of the best two way players in the league and will be licking his chops to prove himself against the NLL legend, Dwyane Wade. Expect 30+ points.

 
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Star

Dwyane Wade

As mentioned earlier, one of the greatest shooting guards in the game. His three point shot has been a lot more effective this year and as always, he is great on the drive and in the post. He is very strong and quick and above all else, is a winner. I predict a big showing from Dwyane, who isn't ready to pass the 'top-dog' SG tag to Klay just yet.

X-Factor
The bench will play a huge factor in this game and I just can't go past the Lakers bench. They have proven volume scorers and if they are on their game, they will put the Kings away in the minutes where the role players take the stage.

I think getting Marvin Williams back is huge for the Lakers and he will also be an x-factor, showing what the Lakers are with him, after seeing what they were like without them. Expect him to come out firing after finally finding a home where he can start and thrive.


The Lakers and Kings rivalry goes back a long time, and I think this will be another great episode.

Lakers by 5-7 points.