[Raw]

Let's run it down:

Point Guard
Smush Parker vs Livingston/Cassell
Who's Smush Parker? Landslide advantage for Clippers

Shooting Guard
Kobe Bryant vs Cuttino Mobley
Decided advantage for Lakers even though Mobley is no slouch

Small Forward
Lamar Odom vs Corey Maggette
I think Maggette is the better player but I will be nice and make it a draw

Power Forward
Kwame Brown vs Elton Brand
No contest here for the two former #1 picks with Elton going against El Busto

Center
Chris Mihm vs Chris Kaman
Battle of the Chrisis goes to the latter. Advantage Clippers

Bench
No contest here either. Advantage Clippers who will be led by either whoever does not start at point, Shaun Livingston or Sam Cassell, against the Lakers who will be led by Devean George

So there you have it Clippers have an edge in the lineup 4-1-1 which makes them much more likely to make the playoffs.

[epark1281]

not a bad analysis, although you've always got a chance with kobe. They were in the mix last year till late in the season when everything started to crumble.

[gjak1117]

however, one small thing to take into account, the Lakers have Phil Jackson back, and, assuming that he and kobe don't create drama, gives them the edge in teh Coaching category over the Clips, and Coaches can make a huge difference.

[EYJAYJAY]

phil jackson is back, also, yeah elton > kwame but kwame has been doing pretty damn good in preseason.

[es-vib]

Depend on how good Lakers run the triangle offense. Clippers might have a better chance.

[Krn_Track_Star]

not a bad analysis, although you've always got a chance with kobe. They were in the mix last year till late in the season when everything started to crumble.

hahah this is kinda funny. im not trying to start anything and dont take this the wrong way. i remember when shaq and kobe were with the lakers and everyone was like kobe is the star of the lakers and can take the lakers to the playoffs and win without shaq but what happen last year. hmmmm they either were barly over 500 or they were under 500 the whole season. yea kobe got injured like the last part of the season but the front part when kobe was there they werent doing so well. true the lakers got phil jackson now but what difference is it going to make if you only have one person on the team who is trying to do everything. look at shaq now. last season he almost made it to the finals again his first yr there with the heat and yeah it wasnt all shaq he had wade there to create plays off the dribble and if he got double teammed he would kick it out to shaq or someone else.

with that i think the clippers this season has a better chance of making it to the playoffs then the lakers simply because clippers try to get everyone involved in the game unlike the lakers whom its all about kobe.

[HERMIT]

They both have EQUAL chances of going to the playoffs, don't they?

I mean, it's not like Ticketmaster discriminates against who they will sell playoff tickets to.

[lakers]

both wont make it this year

[Mr.Wyowang]

both wont make it this year

Clippers would, not Lakers.

[Mugen]

my school team prolly had a better chance than them. ROFL

[Hiatus]

LOl I hope clippers will lol

[epark1281]

hahah this is kinda funny. im not trying to start anything and dont take this the wrong way. i remember when shaq and kobe were with the lakers and everyone was like kobe is the star of the lakers and can take the lakers to the playoffs and win without shaq but what happen last year. hmmmm they either were barly over 500 or they were under 500 the whole season. yea kobe got injured like the last part of the season but the front part when kobe was there they werent doing so well. true the lakers got phil jackson now but what difference is it going to make if you only have one person on the team who is trying to do everything. look at shaq now. last season he almost made it to the finals again his first yr there with the heat and yeah it wasnt all shaq he had wade there to create plays off the dribble and if he got double teammed he would kick it out to shaq or someone else.

with that i think the clippers this season has a better chance of making it to the playoffs then the lakers simply because clippers try to get everyone involved in the game unlike the lakers whom its all about kobe.

point is, with jackson returning to the lakers and kobe being the most sucessful in the triangle, i wouldn't count out the lakers. If brown EVER Lives up to his potential, then lakers are dangerous

[iamsh3d]

i bet the Laker&Clipper coaching staff has a better chance of making playoffs

[Divine Hand]

both wont make it this year

I agree. I think the Warriors are going to try and make the playoffs as the 8th seed, not to mention the Grizzlies and Jazz will be fighting for that spot as well. It's going to be hard and both LA teams may be shut out.

[JuWon6o]

Mike Duleavy always neeeded more talent and he now has a very good team. Hes a great coach so I would think that this might be the year that the Clippers go to the playoffs if all the players manage to stay healthy. Mobley isn't exactly consistent and Sam Cassel has slowed down with injuries since last year. Brand and Maggette always has delivered for the Clippers, however, Clippers have lots of injured players so that might be a big factor.

Lakers are back with Phil Jackson and with have a great coaching staff. The players are a good group and they all have pretty good chemistry in my opinion but they will have to adjust to the triangle offense. Odom has to step up his game and be more aggressive. Kobe just has to be Kobe. I'm optimistic about Kwame Brown's skills, he isn't exactly consistent and he doesn't post up much numbers.

I think both might be able to go to the playoffs. I don't think the Kings will make the playoffs this year. Both LA teams might go to the playoffs.

I think Lakers have more talent mostly due to Kobe.

[HoO8MyRiCe]

I know I know, this is basketball but...

Seeing what Shanahan did with his defense when he got scrubs from the Browns,,, I don't see Kwame as a bust yet. He might be of some use this year--hopefully.

The whole season comes down to how Kwame and Mihm does. If Mihm plays average and Kwame improves, the Lakers have a great chance at making it to the playoffs.

[jisoox012]

wow, i was just thinking about this like 3 minutes ago
i think if Brown seriously gets better, Lakers...maybe >__<

[C@nDy_GiRl_iRis]

Go LAKERS!! ^^

[flipdragn]

i say clippers have a much better chance of making the playoffs than the lakers. kobe can't score 40+ points every game for the lakers. the clippers have got to stay healthy though. when corey maggette comes back, they'll be even better. the clippers are good because even though one of their better players got injured, they were still able to win games. imagine if kobe got injured. that would mean game over for the lakers playoff hopes.

I think the Warriors are going to try and make the playoffs as the 8th seed, not to mention the Grizzlies and Jazz will be fighting for that spot as well.

jazz and the warriors probably but the grizzlies? they'll be fighting for the 5th/6th seed. the only teams that are beating them that isn't a leader in the divisions is the clippers and mavericks, though the mavericks might be able to catch up with the spurs by the end of the season but i doubt that.

you know the western conference has really gotten worse when the clippers, lakers, and hornets would make it into the playoffs if the season were to end now. no disrespect to those teams but some really good teams haven't gotten so bad this season. the houston rockets are at the bottom of the western conference.

[mofo]

you know the western conference has really gotten worse when the clippers, lakers, and hornets would make it into the playoffs if the season were to end now. no disrespect to those teams but some really good teams haven't gotten so bad this season. the houston rockets are at the bottom of the western conference.

the sacramento kings are sucking a lot these days as well lol..the only people left on that team from the glory days are mike bibby..and rick adelman lol.