While both of these teams are both in Los Angeles, they are heading in two totally different directions. The Los Angeles Lakers are in third place in the Western Conference and have already clinched a playoff birth. But, they might not be done in first place. They are only 1.5 games back from first place, which would guarantee them home court advantage throughout the playoffs, something that could be huge in the Western Conference this season with how close all the teams have been. The Clippers on the other hand have been out of the playoff running for a couple of months now, and are simply playing for pride. While both the Lakers and the Clippers play at the same arena, technically the Clippers will be the home team for this game. What that means is that their logo and paint color will be on the floor, but it's my guess that most of the people that go to the game will be going for the Lakers and not the Clippers. If anything, the Clippers can enjoy the revenue the Lakers usually bring for one night.

A lot of the Lakers have either been nicked and bruised, or seriously injured all season long, however they are still making the best out of their situation. Among the nicked up is Kobe Bryant, who should be by most accounts finally bringing home an MVP trophy this season for the very first time. Bryant has been amazing, scoring 28.6 points a game, and continuing to be clutch day in and day out. Lamar Odom has also stepped up big this year. He is among the tops in the league in double-doubles, and doesn't seem to mind doing all of the dirty work.

Like I said, the Clippers are technically the home team, but the Lakers are going to be the favorite. I pick them to win this one quite handedly.

As of this writing, both the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers are just a game and a half out of first place.  A first place seeding in the playoffs would promise a team home-court advantage throughout the entire length of the playoffs, at least until the NBA Finals, because that team could have a better overall record.  To say this game is important would be a major understatement.

The San Antonio Spurs are the defending NBA Champions, and that makes them the team to beat.  They suffered through injuries early in the season, and still continue to have nagging ones now, but the big three of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan all appear to be reading for the playoffs.  The Spurs are so good in the playoffs because they play very tough defense and they know how to slow the pace of a game to almost a crawl, often times leaving teams confused and flabbergasted.  The Spurs have been in these big game situations before, and that’s why they will be slightly favored in this game, as far as I’m concerned, but the Lakers have a huge advantage themselves, home-court advantage.

The Lakers have had their own injury problems as well, including losing emerging center Andrew Bynum for the season.  But, the pickup of Pau Gasol is when the season really turned around for them.  Gasol is also battling injures at the present time, but it’s expected that he’ll be on the court for this game, as well as any game in the playoffs.

Tough game to choose here.  The Spurs generally find a way to win these games, no matter who’s court they are playing on.  The Lakers have emerged as one of the teams to beat, but I still personally feel the Spurs have the advantage here, and in the playoffs, until someone can prove they can beat them.  I’m not sure that will happen.  

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