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Clippers vs. Blazers Preview: Must Win Against Bottom Feeder
Coming off yet another embarrassing loss, the Clippers have a must-win game on the road against the Blazers, one of the worst teams in the NBA.
Game Information
Where: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
When: 7:00 PM PT
How to Watch: Bally Sports SoCal, AM 570
Tickets: For great deals on Clippers tickets, check out Barry’s Tickets!
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: James Harden – Terance Mann – Paul George – Kawhi Leonard – Ivica Zubac
Blazers: Scoot Henderson – Anfernee Simons – Toumani Camara – Kris Murray – DeAndre Ayton
Injuries
Clippers: Russell Westbrook Out (Hand), Norm Powell Questionable (Ankle)
Blazers: Robert Williams Out (Knee), Shaedon Sharpe Out (Abdomen), Malcolm Brogdon Out (Elbow), Jerami Grant Doubtful (Hamstring), Matisse Thybulle Questionable (Ankle)
The Big Picture
The Clippers have continued to fade over the second half of
the season, with injuries, tired legs on an old roster, roster issues, and
sheer lack of effort combining for a brutal brew that has slowed the Clipperson
offense and made them one of the worst defenses in the NBA. They are now just a
single loss ahead of the Pelicans for 4th, and well out of the top
three seeds, a precipitous slide in just a few weeks. The injuries are not
controllable, nor is the age of the roster, but the Clippers simply need to
have more urgency and energy in these games. Losses to good teams when fighting
hard (like that Pelicans game) are excusable, if worrying. Blowouts at the
hands of the Hawks with zero resistance on defense are not. The Clippers need
to shape up, and do it quickly.
The Antagonist
The Blazers are in their first year of their rebuild post
Damian Lillard and it has been a slog, with their 19-49 record placing 5th
worst in the NBA. Prized rookie Scoot Henderson has missed some games with
injury, and when he’s played he’s mostly been very bad – though somewhat better
in the past few months. Second-year guard Shaedon Sharpe has missed half the
season and is probably going to finish with just 32 games played. Robert
Williams, one of the prizes of the Dame/Jrue Holiday trades, played in just six
games before going out to injury. The bright spots have been few, with Toumani Camara
flashing some real defensive chops as a rookie, Jabari Walker taking a step
forward in his second season, and DeAndre Ayton playing well the past few
weeks. The Blazers are young and athletic, but very, very bad, especially when
their vets such as Grant and Brogdon are out.
Notes
Just Win: While I’d love to see the Clippers actually play well, at this point they just need to get some wins to stay afloat in the standings. It doesn’t need to be pretty, but this game against the Blazers and the follow-up on Friday are two of the easiest games left on their schedule, and are therefore must-wins. Stringing together two wins, even against such a poor quality opponent, could go a bit of a ways towards getting the Clippers back into a groove.
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Clippers vs. Blazers Preview: Must Win Against Bottom Feeder
Robert Flom