Patrick Beverley says Lakers are not team to beat

Patrick Beverley is making it clear that his team is not looking up at anybody.

In an Instagram Live session with ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth on Saturday, the LA Clippers guard was asked if he saw the rival LA Lakers as the team to beat.

“No,” replied Beverley. “I mean that with absolutely no disrespect. Not only the Lakers organization but to any organization. Everyone is preparing to win a championship, so I can’t discredit anyone. But I understand and I know the guys that’s in my locker room and the mentality they have and the urge they have to win and the sacrifices that guys took and are taking for us to win a championship this year. I know my guys inside and out, and I know their mindset. I know how far they’re gonna go until this job is done.

“Like I said, it’s no disrespect, discredit to anyone else, I just don’t know, I’m not in personal contact with anyone else in the NBA except my teammates,” the veteran continued. “From that mind point right there, I can only go with us. I can only go with us. I understand what we have, what we had before. We have two pieces in K [Kawhi Leonard] and P [Paul George], and you add Twin [Marcus Morris] and you add Reggie [Jackson] and we become a dangerous team. But that doesn’t discredit any other team who’s working hard out there also. I’m just really confident in ours, that’s all.”

Beverley and the Clippers have a right to feel confident. Before play was suspended, they had the NBA’s fourth-best record and were 4-3 against the three teams ahead of them in the standings (including 2-1 against the Lakers).

The former All-Defensive First Teamer Beverley has also gone out of his way this season to show that the Lakers don’t phase him, so these comments are very on-brand for Mr. 94 Feet.