NBA analysts decide: LeBron James and Anthony Davis or Kawhi Leonard and Paul George?

LOS ANGELES — The NBA has billed the game as one of its marquee matchups on Christmas Day. When the Lakers and Clippers meet on Wednesday (8 pm ET on ABC), the implications might go beyond bragging rights in the entertainment capital. It might be a sneak preview of a Western Conference playoff matchup.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis try to rectify their season-opening loss to the Clippers. While Kawhi Leonard will try to dominate just as he did on opening night, Paul George will make his debut against the Lakers after missing the first 11 games recovering from offseason surgery on both shoulders. The Lakers will try to prove that their West-leading record will last for five months. The Clippers hope their short-term pains with injuries and integrating new players start to pass.

To break down all of these story lines, USA TODAY Sports talked to an informal group of NBA television analysts. The television analysts were named because they are paid for their candor. One NBA assistant coach was granted anonymity for their candor.

How would you size up where the Lakers and Clippers are so far?

Gary Payton, former NBA player and analyst for NBA TV: "Both of them are pretty much where we thought about they would be. But I thought the Clippers would be a little bit better than this, record wise. The only reason that it isn’t is because of the load management or rest management that they’re going through with Kawhi. I think the Lakers are a little bit different because they’re not having load management. They’re playing with each other and are getting a chemistry together. Their chemistry is so good with LeBron and AD and all the other players around them. Basically, they are all playing their roles, especially with the way Dwight Howard is playing. The Clippers are up and down right now because they don’t know what they’re going to get."

Stan Van Gundy, former NBA coach and analyst for NBA TV: "They have been as good as advertised. I think the Lakers have probably come around quicker than maybe people expected with all the new faces where the Clippers had more struggles. But that’s purely been because of health. The Lakers have been able to get Davis and James out there every day. They’ve played together from training camp all the way through. With the Clippers. Paul George didn’t really do training camp, and Kawhi played on a limited basis. They haven’t played together that much. So it’s still a work in progress. But I think we’ve seen enough to know they’re going to be really solid contenders.

"The Lakers are a more well rounded team defensively, while the Clippers are a more well rounded team offensively. They’ve got a little bit more help. The only real problem with the Lakers, and there is not much, is I’m not sure they have a second reliable shot creator behind LeBron. I think the Clippers obviously do with Lou Williams. They can go beyond their two stars. I don’t think there is much that separates those two teams and are a step ahead of everybody else. But I would have a hard time picking between those two teams right now."

Jalen Rose, former NBA player, ESPN NBA analyst for Christmas Day games: "The Lakers and Bucks both understand and seem to be playing for the marathon and acknowledging they want to get the highest seed possible. Not only do they want home- court advantage in their conference, but possibly as opponents in the NBA Finals. What the Clippers could face is if one of the Western Conference teams, which has not happened yet, distinguishes themselves as a second tier. Houston, Utah, Portland, they haven’t played as well as they have hoped so far. So the Lakers and Clippers are the clear cut best teams in the conference as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds."

Isiah Thomas, former NBA player and analyst for NBA TV: "I’m a little surprised at how fast and how well both teams have come together. The Lakers are getting off to a juggernaut start and so are the Clippers. When you have that kind of talent that both teams have and none of them have played a lot of minutes together, there are normally bumps and hurdles that you go through in the early part of the season, you work it out. By late December or early January, that’s when you start to see these teams come together and start rolling. The success that both teams have had out of the gate has been a little surprising. But that speaks well to the coaching and the talent that they have."

Anonymous NBA assistant coach: "In the regular season, the Lakers are going to be dominant. I think the Clippers are more suited for the playoffs just because of their defense."

Considering everyone is healthy, which duo would you pick? LeBron and AD or Kawhi and PG?

Payton: "I don’t know who can guard AD between Paul and Kawhi. Either one of them can guard LeBron. But AD is a bigger player. (Montrezl) Harrell would have to take that job or (Patrick) Patterson. One of those guys would have to take that situation. But AD is a good enough basketball player where he can put them down in the block and then shoot over them. He will be a big problem for the Clippers. I think the Lakers trying to guard Kawhi and Paul will be different, too. They will take them out on the perimeter, especially AD. LeBron would have to step up on his defense. So that would be a big matchup. I would love to see this. That’s why I want to see it with all four of them on the floor. I hope that happens on Christmas. Then we can really see what is going to happen with these guys. It’s hard to tell right now."

Van Gundy: "All four of them are going to be great. I don’t think there is a big edge. If I had to give a slight edge, I’d give it to the Clippers on the offensive end for two reasons. No. 1: I think both (Leonard and George) are able to create shots on their own and it’s easier for them than it is for Anthony Davis. He needs to get the ball in the post. Plus, I think they’ve got the better shot creator in Lou Williams. But I’d give the Lakers a slight edge defensively. I have a hard time making a call between those two teams. They both seem highly motivated right now. I like how the rosters have been constructed around those guys. I give both front offices a lot of credit for what they’ve done. Both teams are doing a great job. It’s hard for me to pick between them."

Rose: "With all things equal in basketball, you always go with taller. In that instance, I have to go with the Lakers and their bulk and their interior presence. When you can have LeBron at his size at 6-9 and Kyle Kuzma and then you go bigger with Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee. They have so many big productive players that they can put out there. That creates the difference."

Thomas: "We all have to sit back and wait for the answer to play out. There are pluses and minuses on both sides of the ledger. Neither one of them is more dominant than the other. I look at the duo of Leonard and George and LeBron and Davis, that’s must-see TV and must-watch every night. I don’t know if you can really, at least I’m not comfortable saying who is the best or who’s who. On any given night, they both can dominate each other."

Assistant: "That’s tough. It goes back to the playoffs and regular season. Even though AD is a good defender, I think on-ball perimeter defense is extremely valuable. If all four guys are healthy and you factor in the stages of your career, I’m going with Kawhi and Paul. But man is it tough. There’s an argument for both, obviously. Not only is LeBron in better shape than last year, he’s in better shape than his last year in Cleveland when he played a lot of minutes. That break rejuvenated him a little bit. He’s making multiple efforts on defense. His change of direction stuff is better from side to side. He’s in really good condition. Last year, he was pretty much worn down after his time in Cleveland."

What do you think of how the Clippers are managing Kawhi’s injury?

Payton: "They’re looking at what Kawhi did last year and that he’s fresher than anybody. Okay, that’s fine. But what happens if that doesn’t work? That worked one time. What if it doesn’t work again? Now there are a lot about teams that are pretty good, while the Clippers are trying to figure that out. I don’t know if that’s a good thing. What if they don’t get home-court advantage? Then you have to look to go on somebody’s home floor and beat them. I think there’s an advantage in trying to make a statement in the NBA right now and saying, ‘It’s going to be hard for ya’ll to beat us. You’re going to come in here and be scared of us.’ Right now, I don’t think the Clippers are a good basketball team. I had predicted them to win it all and win the West. But not until they can be more consistent with their lineup."

Van Gundy: "That’s smart. I just worry about the overall affect on the league. What’s going to happen? We’re already seeing a decline in ratings a little bit. It certainly doesn’t help when you turn on a game and stars aren’t playing. Or you go to a game and a star is not there. You don’t know if he’s going to play when you buy a ticket. I’m concerned about the league. But for the teams, managing those injuries are probably a smart thing to do."

Rose: "Being a former player, I’m all for extending careers. But I’m more for understanding that the fans are the heartbeat of what makes the NBA so special and not taking that relationship for granted in any way, shape or form. It used to be important for the players to try to play 82 games. That was something that used to be a badge of honor. Now in the ‘era of counting rings’ and dumbing down the regular season with fans and media? Then players realize, ‘You’re just going to judge the championship? Well then I’m not going to worry about this Wednesday night game in November."

Thomas: "I support what Kawhi is doing only because it’s been his history. It’s not a new thing for him. It’s not like all of a sudden he just started doing this. This is the way he’s played in the NBA for a very long time. You can’t argue with the success that he’s has doing it this way. ... Now for other players that don’t have that historical data to support their 'load management,’ I can’t ride with them."

Assistant: "You’re trying to play your best basketball at the end of the year. You can’t play your best basketball if your best players are worn down and hurt. I’m no expert medically. But I do know if I’m going into a playoff series, I want Kawhi feeling refreshed, healthy and at the top of his game. So it’s obviously about managing that to where you get enough wins in the regular season. To get a good seed and home-court advantage is important. But it’s even more important to get your two best players over the finish line and be ready to battle."

How would you compare the Lakers and Clippers benches?

Payton: "Both of their benches are good. But who is going to be that one that gives you that extra oomph if one of the superstars does not have a good game? Who’s going to take over? I think right now Lou Williams and Harrell can do that."

Van Gundy: "The Lakers are a more well rounded team defensively, while the Clippers are a more well rounded team offensively. They’ve got a little bit more help. The only real problem with the Lakers, and there is not much, is I’m not sure they have a second reliable shot creator behind LeBron. I think the Clippers obviously do with Lou Williams. They can go beyond their two stars. I don’t think there is much that separates those two teams and are a step ahead of everybody else. But I would have a hard time picking between those two teams right now."

Rose: "I can tell you who the Clippers closing five is consistently. I can’t tell you what the Lakers’ closing five is going to be because they have more options. So that’s why if I had to choose overall between those two teams, it would be the Lakers."

Assistant: "It’s all going to depend on who can make those open threes in the playoffs. All of those role guys are going to have wide open threes in the playoffs. You’re going to be putting all of your efforts into stopping the duos. When LeBron passes the ball to someone, the ball weighs 1,000 times more and the pressure on that shot is totally inflated. In a playoff series, when LeBron passes you the ball, you have to be a mentally tough dude to make it. It’s really down to who do you think will make those wide-open shots when both teams try to take the duos out? I would give an edge to the Clippers because there is not as much pressure on them that comes with the whole LeBron show and Lakers show."

If the Lakers and Clippers meet in the playoffs, who do you take and why?

Payton: "If they play each other in the playoffs, it’ll go seven (games). It’ll be an interesting series. These two teams have great basketball players. I think all of them are going to step up. I like what the Lakers are doing because they are establishing their team and making their players have their roles. ... The Clippers are a team that can do the same thing. They have players who can come in here and match up with everybody else. Both of them are long and both of them like to play defense. Whoever is going to be the team that locks down in the defensive end will have the edge."

Van Gundy: I’d probably have to see more. The only thing I see is weaknesses that the Lakers, for whatever reason, are having trouble with transition defense. The rest of their defense is outstanding. But they can be run on. Teams tend to run less in the playoffs. So it may not be an issue. I haven’t seen the emergence of a true second ball handler. With the Clippers, to me that is a concern that they get enough shooting around those guys. JaMychal Green and Moe Harkless, will they be able to help them space the floor enough when it comes playoff time? Then their only weakness defensively is basket protection. They don’t have nearly the size that the Lakers have or the shot blocking. So it puts a lot of pressure. They have great perimeter defenders. But it puts a lot of pressure on them to keep the ball out of the paint because they don’t have a guy that can help them at the rim."

Rose: "Playing at the Staples Center, it’s going to be a purple and gold crowd regardless of how well the Clippers have ascended. It better be a seven- game series. I’m taking the team with more height and bulk up front, and that’s the Lakers. Also for Anthony Davis, it’s a positive adjustment and a role shift. He’s not considered to be the leader or required to have the only responsibility to be the best player and carry what comes with that. In theory, that is LeBron. But AD can still be the guy that goes out and scores 50."

Thomas: "Normally you would say one team will have the advantage because they have a better record. Then you would lean toward home-court advantage. With these two teams playing in the same city and also playing in the same arena, we’ve never seen anything like this. The things that you normally would give the team an edge for with travel, psychological advantage, toughness, none of that comes into play right now."

Assistant: "The Clippers have a little bit of an edge with the defenders they have. They just make everything difficult. For you to execute offensively, you have to be darn near perfect. They are steal threats, have length and have size. If you make a mistake, they take advantage. They put pressure on your guards to get into your offense. It’ll be hard to run an offense in a playoff series since the Clippers are going to know exactly what the Lakers are doing. Kawhi and Paul are big enough where they can switch. They are just so versatile that I think that’s what gives them the edge."

Follow USA TODAY NBA writer Mark Medina on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.