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Clippers vs Celtics Preview: Taking on the Champs
The Clippers come into Boston on a five-game winning streak to face their toughest opponent of the season thus far, the defending champion, 15-3 Celtics.
Game Information
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
When: 4:30 PM PT
How to Watch: KTLA, AM 570
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: James Harden – Amir Coffey – Kris Dunn – Derrick Jones Jr. – Ivica Zubac
Celtics: Derrick White – Jrue Holiday – Jaylen Brown – Jason Tatum – Xavier Tillman
Injuries
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Out (Knee), Norm Powell Doubtful (Hamstring), PJ Tucker Out (Away from team), Trentyn Flowers Out (G-League), Cam Christie Out (G-League)
Celtics: Kristaps Porzingis Doubtful (Foot), Luke Kornet Doubtful (Hamstring), Al Horford Questionable (Rest)
The Antagonist
If the Celtics aren’t the best team in the league, they’re right up there. Sitting pretty at 15-3, the Celtics are top three in Net Rating alongside the Thunder and Cavaliers with top 10 units on both sides of the ball. The Celtics’ depth is not the best, but they make up for that with an exceptional starting unit that just blows most competition away and can be staggered in various combinations to prop up bench units. That they are doing all this without starting center Kristaps Porzingis is even more impressive – their perimeter defense and shooting are good enough that they can do without his rim protection and plus shooting. The Celtics are not afraid of anyone and are nearly unbeatable at home. Losing to them on the road on the second night of a back-to-back is more or less expected (though the Celtics also played last night). Schedule wise, this might well be the toughest game on the Clippers’ calendar all season.
Notes
The Defensive Assignments: What’s tough about the Celtics is they start four perimeter players you really have to guard. That means there is no soft hiding spot for James Harden, though I expect they will “stash” him on Jrue Holiday, who at this point of his career is definitely the worst offensive player between him, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum. I’d guess Coffey is on White, with Dunn and DJJ on the Celtics’ star wings. Normally Dunn gets the best offensive player on the other team, which is Tatum, but I’m sure the Clippers will be switching like crazy anyway. The key for the Clippers will be to limit the Celtics’ three pointers as much as possible and funnel them into Ivica Zubac at the rim. It will be a huge test for the Clippers, who have demonstrated their mettle time and again on defense this year but have not faced anything like the Celtics’ buzzsaw.
Keeping Harden Going: The Clippers got James Harden’s most efficient scoring game of the season last night, as he scored 23 points on just 10 shots in the rout of the Sixers. The Celtics are a much different story. They are long, physical, and love to pressure opposing ballhandlers – all things that can fluster Harden. The fact that the Celtics have so many plus defenders also means it will be difficult for the ancillary Clippers to cook, putting a lot on Harden’s shoulders. If he’s able to get to his usual 20 and 9, even if it’s inefficient, the Clippers might have a chance to win. If he underperforms that by a significant margin, they are probably going to get blown out.
Clippers vs Celtics Preview: Taking on the Champs
Robert Flom