Why not?

The rivalry between the Lakers and Clippers here in Los Angeles is starting to heat up.

You see what I did there?

UH, this time due to comments from Lakers forward Jared Dudley.

He has an e book he released this week entitled Inside the MBA Bubble, A Championship Season Under Quarantine.

And in the book Dudley.

Given a little like inside scoop on what the Lakers went through, he revealed his team was primed for the quote battle of L.

A.

Because of Paul.

George Dudley writes that PG was quote disrespectful in his comments about the Lakers, which he says, motivate them.

Here is the excerpt from the book quote.

We hear some of these guys talking about how they're the team to beat in L.

A.

It's fine if Kawai says stuff like that, Jared Dudley writes.

He is defending a championship.

We don't trip.

If someone like Patrick Beverley is talking trash, that's how he feeds his family.

We get it.

We respect the hustle, but we think it is disrespectful for Paul George, who hasn't won to put himself on the level of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

This motivates us now.

Paul George was asked about it last night after the Clippers win, and he said, Quote, God bless you, Jared Dudley.

I don't know what it is.

Dudes love throwing my name and stuff, said Paul.

George.

He said, But God bless you, Jared.

So, Matt, as this rivalry heats up, do you think the Lakers should beam or or less worried about the Clippers than they were last season?

Because from Jared's book, it feels like they were definitely on their mind, Uh, rental.

To be honest with you, I don't think either of these teams worry about each other.

I think they're both playing well right now in the matchup.

We all want to see his fans.

Is them in the Western Conference finals?

Hopefully, But I don't really think their fear.

I mean, being a former player.

I know we didn't fear anyone.

We respected everyone.

We couldn't wait to play certain teams more than others, but I don't think they worry about each other either team.

Yeah, the following is a list of things that the Lakers air worried about.

The list is over on.

You know.

I didn't think there was a time.

There was a time last year.

You know, the Clippers won the first couple of meetings.

Uh, you know, they got him on Christmas Day.

They got him on opening night.

There was a time where the, you know, the Clippers kind of did have the upper hand.

But the Lakers played so well in the bubble last year, and the thing that the Lakers have that nobody else does, they have the extra gear and the extra gear wears Number 23.

And when you've got him and he's healthy and playing well, I just think they're gonna take Ah, higher ground.

And you know, I do think it's interesting and I love Jerry Dudley and I wish it is a 42 page book.

I wish he wrote 84 pages or 168 pages, because I love this kind of stuff in this kind of insight, I do think it's interesting that he gave Patrick Beverley a pass because most people less Beverly is the number one agitator.

Certainly Dame Lillard and the Blazers feel that way, so I just got a kick out of that.

He gave Bev a pass because, Bev, you know, typically smell with a lot more.

I'm not so sure everybody.

The Lakers feels that way.

But you know what?

This has been a really interesting 12 months for Paul George, and he's either gonna have a triumphant finished where he dances on everybody or this is going to get worse before it gets better.

Well, Matt, I mean, you had Paul George on all the smoke.

We've talked about the fact that his mindset has shifted here.

What do you think, Matt?

Of Jared Dudley calling him out in an e book like this and then PGS response.

God bless Jared Dudley.

Now that's my guy.

You know, Jared is a great talker, great teammate.

I'm sure he's one of the, you know, the most favorite Lakers on the team.

I know, I know.

The guys in the locker room love him.

PG is on a mission.

He said that he's been showing that right.

People back, I said, G is on a mission.

He's been saying that he's been backing up his play, but similar to the Bucks until we get in the playoffs with Paul and the Clippers.

Similar to the Bucks.

Until they do something in the playoffs, he's gonna continue to be spoken about.

Unfortunately, Yeah, well, I will.

I will say that that both of those guys, maybe they're on a collision course in the Western Conference finals.

We will see, as Brian said, Um, it is fun for us in the media to talk to Jared because he is so colorful.

Great insight.

The book is really fun.

I mean, there's a lot in there, even though it is, as you say, Brian, not as long as maybe we would like.

But there is a lot of good little nuggets in there if you're a Lakers fan, definitely worth checking out.

And I guess Paul George now has read it, too.

And in my mind, I agree with you.

Matt came up with the perfect response in his pressure last night.

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