By Ricky Dimon
As expected, it was a playoff atmosphere at the Staples Center when the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers squared off on opening night of the 2019-20 season. And just about from start to finish, the game did not disappoint. The two in-city rival went back and forth trading big runs, eventually resulting in a 112-102 victory for the Clippers. Reigning NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard did it all for his new team, contributing 30 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals. The Clippers also showcased their ridiculous depth, as all four bench players who got minutes scored in double-figures (by comparison, Leonard was the only starter who reached double-digits).
For the Lakers, LeBron James and Anthony Davis had their moments. But they were inconsistent and faded drastically in the fourth quarter after leading a brief third-quarter comeback. Without question, Leonard was the best player on the floor—just as he was throughout last season’s playoffs with Toronto. Now the question is: can he be the best player in the NBA for all of 2019-20?
NBA MVP Odds
Prediction: Giannis Antetokounmpo (+250)
Antetokounmpo edged out James Harden for 2018-19 MVP honors and there is no reason why he cannot win it again. Whereas power duos are the current trend in the NBA, the Greek Freak has no clearly sidekick in Milwaukee. He is without question the man. As such, he will be free to put up ridiculous numbers. At the same time, though, his supporting cast is good enough to once again make the Bucks the best team in the Eastern Conference—and you pretty much have to be on a great team to win MVP. Do you have the Bucks winning today? Check out our NBA picks for tonight.
Second choice: Stephen Curry (+500)
Like Antetokounmpo, Curry is the undisputed leader of his team. That has not always been the case, of course, as Klay Thompson has been around for much of Curry’s tenure with Golden State and Kevin Durant joined them for the past three years. With Thompson out (torn ACL) and Durant gone (Brooklyn), Curry could go crazy—and will likely lead in the NBA in scoring.
Best value: Kawhi Leonard (+900)
Leonard is too good to be tied for as only sixth favorite for MVP. His team may be too good for him to win it, though, as the former San Diego State standout will have share the spoils with Paul George, Lou Williams, and plenty of other Clippers players. But George is out with a shoulder injury right now and there is no clear timetable for his return. Leonard will be leading the charge—probably even when PG3 returns.
Longshot: Kyrie Irving (+3300)
Is Irving going to win NBA MVP? Probably not. But is he worth a nibble at +3300? Sure. Durant is going to miss the season with a torn Achilles’, so Irving will obviously be the go-to guy on the new-look Nets. In each of the past three seasons he has averaged at least 23.8 points per game while shooting better than 40 percent from three-point range.