L.A. Lakers vs. L.A. Clippers: Andrew Bynum and 3 Young Stars to Watch
The young guns will be out in Los Angeles on Saturday when the Lakers and Clippers square off. There will be a lot of talent on the court that will give us a glimpse of not only the future of Los Angeles basketball, but the whole NBA.
Bynum has come out of his shadow this year. It's still early, but Bynum is a dominant big man, with over 17 points and 13 rebounds per game. He's a legitimate compliment to Kobe Bryant, which the Lakers have needed on offense for a few years.
At 7'0, 285 pounds, Bynum has the build to be a dominant center for a long time—if he can only stay healthy. In addition to his offensive prowess, Bynum is averaging better than two blocked shots per game. It will be a lot of fun to see him defend the Lob City Clippers in the paint.
Prediction: 21 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks
DeAndre Jordan
Take a look at the man who will be spending most of the night getting comfortable with Andrew Bynum. Jordan's primary value is as a defender, but he's also a strong compliment to Blake Griffin above the rim.
Jordan's overall points per game total is less than impressive, coming in at fewer than eight per game. But he's 6'11, 265 pounds, and tremendously athletic, which leads to some incredibly powerful dunks.
As you can see, Jordan also has a tremendous vertical leap. It's no wonder that he averages more than three blocks per game on the other side of the ball. At only 23 years old, Jordan is an explosive player with a ceiling that's higher than his vertical leap.
Prediction: 13 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks
Blake Griffin
No player, old, young, or anything in between, is as exciting to watch as Griffin. He's a highlight-reel player that you can't look away from. But while Griffin is an incredible athlete and dunker, there's more to his game than that.
Griffin averages over 23 points per game and nearly 11 rebounds. He'll be matched up in the paint all night against fellow young gun Andrew Bynum, and veteran Pau Gasol. Look for Griffin to have a huge night, earning some SportsCenter highlights in the process.
Prediction: 28 points, 12 rebounds
