Ever since their spectacle-laden acquisition of Luka Doncic at the 2025 trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers have been on a mission to build a championship-ready roster built around superstar synergy and hard-nosed depth. This offseason, they’ve lost defensive stalwart Dorian Finney-Smith to Houston, but swung back by using that salary to land three serious impact players: former DPOY and guard Marcus Smart, talented big Deandre Ayton, and versatile forward Jake LaRavia.
With LeBron James, Doncic, and Austin Reaves forming a deadly nucleus, these additions feel less like fill-ins and more like perfect complements, for now. But whispers are loud: the Lakers aren’t finished yet.
On the flip side, the Clippers have punctuated their own rebuild with an interesting mix of veteran talent. They swapped Norman Powell for John Collins, then convinced Bradley Beal to take on a starring role next to Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, and as a coup de grace, lured Chris Paul back with a one-year reunion.
With depth, savvy, and veteran fight, they’re claiming contender status in a West that’s never been more chaotic. So when LA’s two powerhouse franchises collide in a hypothetical 2025-26 Western Conference Finals showdown, what gives?
For the first time since the 2019-20 season in the “Bubble”, the Lakers and Clippers are potentially on a crash course to meet for all the marbles, although the OKC Thunder and Houston Rockets are obvious contenders as well.
The Lakers boast star continuity and a defensive identity reshaped by Smart and Ayton. The Clippers counter with postseason experience, perimeter scoring, and a legend’s return in CP3. It’s a true battle of big-name talent, so let’s dive into the matchups and predict who comes out on top in a seven-game series.
Starting Lineups
Los Angeles Lakers: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton
This Lakers quintet is headlined by the unstoppable duo of Luka Doncic (28.2 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 7.7 APG) and LeBron James (24.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 8.2 APG), with Austin Reaves’s all-around impact (20.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.8 APG), Rui Hachimura’s three-point gravity (41.3% 3-PT FG), and Deandre Ayton’s imposing presence inside (14.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG) rounding out a fearsome five. Luka and LeBron form a deadly pick-and-roll threat, while Ayton fixes the glaring center need, last season’s double-double machine bolstering the team’s rim protection and rebounding game.
Hachimura brings spacing and defense, and Reaves adds the spark and chemistry that complements two generational stars. Their cohesion feels preordained, built for crunch time, and when this unit clicks, it’s championship-level orchestration.
Los Angeles Clippers: James Harden, Bradley Beal, Kawhi Leonard, John Collins, Ivica Zubac
The Clippers roll out a superstar-studded starting five anchored by the dynamic perimeter trio of James Harden (22.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 8.7 APG), Bradley Beal (17.0 PPG), and Kawhi Leonard (21.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG). Harden-Beal-Kawhi creates elite scoring versatility, while John Collins (19.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG) and Ivica Zubac (16.8 PPG, 12.6 RPG) provide traditional frontcourt strength, athleticism, rebounding, and inside presence.
Collins brings energy and athletic finishing at the four, complementing Zubac’s steady rim protection. Their collective shot-making and playoff know-how make for a high-octane offense with lethal spacing. If they can stay healthy and share the ball, this lineup is potent enough to challenge anybody out West.
However, the Clippers’ age and defensive resistance could be two major issues, meaning the Lakers’ starters edge them out on paper and, according to us, on the court.
Advantage: Los Angeles Lakers
Key Bench Players
Los Angeles Lakers: Gabe Vincent, Bronny James, Marcus Smart, Dalton Knecht, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, Jaxson Hayes
Depth is their silent killer. Smart and Vincent can close games with intensity and precision. LaRavia and Knecht offer shooting punch, while Vanderbilt, Kleber, and Hayes bring positional versatility and defensive grit off the pine. They’ve built a Swiss Army knife bench that can shift gears based on the matchup. They could find scoring difficult from their bench in some games, however.
Los Angeles Clippers: Chris Paul, Kris Dunn, Cam Christie, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Derrick Jones Jr., Nicolas Batum, Kobe Brown, Brook Lopez
CP3 stabilizes the second unit, creating space for Bogdanovic, Batum, Lopez, Dunn, Jones Jr., and Christie to capitalize. They’ve got the veteran savvy to survive poor shooting nights. But history shows inconsistency—Bogdanovic’s playoff shortcomings loom large. If their bench catches fire, LA might ride it deep; if not, they could flatline.
Overall, we don’t see much of a difference between the teams. The Clippers might have bigger names off the bench, but a 40-year-old Chris Paul and a 37-year-old Brook Lopez aren’t enough to push them over the Lakers just yet.
Advantage: Even
J.J. Redick vs. Tyronn Lue
J.J. Redick brings analytical precision and offensive creativity. His challenge? Time and trust. He’s young on the sideline in real playoff heat. But his rotations will lean into analytics and pace. I expect shimmying lineups, flexible defenses, and a willingness to ride bench surges early.
Ty Lue is playoff-tested, methodical, and pragmatic. He’ll ride his veterans’ strengths, ice-cold closeouts, mind games, and high-low post actions. He’s sharpened this group before. In tight game 7s, that experience may tilt the balance. Lue’s brilliance is attention to adjustment details, something Redick is still learning. Advantage goes to the Clippers for this reason.
Advantage: Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers Advantages
The Lakers’ starting five is a sight to behold on paper: LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Deandre Ayton form a trio of elite size, playmaking, and finishing. LeBron’s sheer physical presence and basketball IQ never goes away, and Doncic brings unmatched creative vision.
Ayton’s 7’0” frame fills the paint with double-double consistency and protects the rim, immediately boosting interior defense and rebound control. Rui Hachimura spaces the floor, and Austin Reaves injects youthful energy and hustle. That core gives the Lakers an imposing frontcourt advantage over the Clippers.
Coaching continuity and player development under JJ Redick is also a positive, entering Year Two. Redick brought structure, accountability, and a shooter’s mindset last year, and now he’ll double down on growing talent like Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton, and Austin Reaves.
We already see LaRavia raving about how Redick is unlocking his jumper and rotation potential. Expect these secondary pieces to bust through ceilings, tighten rotations, and give the Lakers both dominant size and high-end depth.
Los Angeles Clippers Advantages
There’s no denying it: the Clippers are a constellation of superstars, hungry for an NBA title. Kawhi Leonard, a two-time finals MVP and elite two-way force; James Harden, who sacrificed max money to chase contender status and has vowed to elevate the team’s attitude, earning praise from legends like Hakeem Olajuwon; and Bradley Beal, a sharpshooter who fits seamlessly alongside Harden and Leonard, what insiders call a “perfect fit”.
Then there’s the seasoned savvy of Chris Paul, returning in what is almost certainly his final season with a chip on his shoulder, and John Collins and Ivica Zubac, providing reliability and athleticism on the inside. That roster reads like a championship roster blueprint.
Most importantly, this core is driven. After early playoff exits in consecutive years (51 wins to first-round exits), the narrative around “Clippers choke” fuels a fierce internal hunger. Tyronn Lue’s proven playoff acumen, combined with his stars’ relentless pursuit of a ring, gives this team competitive steel. If health holds, this collection of high-IQ veterans and scorers coalesces into a team built for the grind of a seven-game series.
Who Wins In A Best-Of-7 Series?
Here’s the verdict: in a seven-game showdown between these revamped L.A. powerhouses, the Los Angeles Lakers have the edge. Their dominant size, with LeBron, Luka, and Ayton, creates matchup nightmares from the paint to the perimeter. They’ve also got the momentum of a coach in his second year (J.J. Redick), who’s already proven he can elevate role players like Austin Reaves and Jake LaRavia, ensuring depth and energy carry through every quarter.
This combination of frontcourt control, star cohesion, and youthful optimism swings the series in their favor. High-level talent and motivation collide, and depth wins close games. That said, the Clippers won’t back down; they’re a playoff-tested squad anchored by superstar firepower in Kawhi, Harden, and Beal, further buoyed by the return of legend Chris Paul for a late-career charge.
Their experience gives them short-series grit, and Ty Lue’s strategic adjustments in crunch time will make this one gritty. But we still see them behind the Lakers in a seven-game series. Their ceiling is high, but yard-to-yard, the Lakers’ balance, size, future upside, and coaching momentum tilt the series. Final outlook: Lakers in six games, they are built with better stars and better defenders.
Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers 4-2
