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Clippers vs. Jazz Preseason Preview Part 2
The Clippers’ second game of the 2023 preseason is a rematch against the Utah Jazz, but this time in Seattle instead of Honolulu.
Basic Information
Where: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington
When: 7:00 PM PT
How to Watch: KTLA, AM 570
Projected Starting Lineups
Jazz: Talen Horton-Tucker – Collin Sexton – Lauri Markkanen – John Collins – Walker Kessler
Clippers: Russell Westbrook – Paul George – Kawhi Leonard – Robert Covington – Ivica Zubac
Injuries
Jazz: None
Clippers: Brandon Boston Out (Knee), Marcus Morris Out (Rest)
Notes
New Starters: Ty Lue said after Game 1 that Russell Westbrook and Robert Covington would start this one. It remains to be seen if Paul George and Kawhi Leonard will as well, but there was nothing stated that anyone other than Marcus Morris was ruled out advance for this. While Bones Hyland was clearly just a fill-in starter for Russ in the first preseason game, it is unclear whether RoCo was mostly getting that game off (like Russ and Nico) and thus Mann was also the fill-in, or if that battle for the starting power forward spot is ongoing. Regardless, I think RoCo and Mann are the two best fits for that fifth starter, and I’m quite happy that it seems like the Clippers will go with one of them.
No Morris: Marcus Morris was ruled out ahead of Game 1 with a groin injury, and has already been declared out for this game too. The timing of the injury (when Morris seemed healthy in camp) seeming suspicious was reinforced by Law Murray of the Athletic, who noted that Morris does not seem to be in the team’s plans even if he isn’t traded. This is wonderful news to all but the few brave Morris stans still remaining, as Morris was clearly washed up the second half of last year and has worn out his welcome with fans. Maybe he gets a chance if he sticks on the roster long enough, but for now, he seems firmly out of the rotation.
Guarding Point of Attack: If the above is in fact the starting lineup, it will be interesting to see how defensive assignments are divvied up. For all of RoCo’s brilliance as a help defender, he’s no longer capable of guarding quicker players on the perimeter – and asking Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to do that for long stretches seems counterproductive. Therefore, it will probably fall on Russ to guard opposing team’s lead ball handlers, unless they’re bigger forwards like LeBron. Russ has shown he can still handle such assignments, but it’s taxing for a player of age, so it will be interesting to see how he handles that over the course of the season. This all is, of course, perhaps the main reason for starting Mann over RoCo, though that substitution for point of attack defense does come at the price of a smaller unit with worse shooting. That’s why the decision between the two of them is so fascinating.