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Clippers vs Knicks Preview: Getting Revenge
The Clippers will try to keep their winning streak going against the Knicks, who blew them out in James Harden’s Clippers’ debut.
Game Information
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
When: 7:30 PM PT
How to Watch: Bally Sports SoCal, AM 570
Projected Starting Lineups
Knicks: Jalen Brunson – Donte DiVincenzo – RJ Barrett – Julius Randle – Jericho Sims
Clippers: James Harden – Amir Coffey – Kawhi Leonard – Terance Mann – Ivica Zubac
Injuries
Knicks: Mitchell Robinson Out (Ankle)
Clippers: Paul George Questionable (Groin), Mason Plumlee Out (Knee), Moussa Diabate Doubtful (Hip)
The Big Picture
The Clippers’ six game winning streak is the longest active in the NBA. Their Net Rating, which has been better than their record would indicate all season, has surged to 4.8, which is 5th in the NBA. And, impressively, just like the first two years of the 213 era, the Clippers are doing it on both ends, with an Offensive Rating that ranks 12th and a Defensive Rating sitting at 6th. They still sink to the level of the competition sometimes, but they have picked up some good wins and appear to be a real playoff contender. What a difference a month makes.
The Antagonist
The Knicks are in a very similar position to the Clippers, with a 14-10 record, a 4.0 Net Rating that ranks 9th in the NBA, and a status in the mid-tier of the Eastern Conference. The Knicks have been steadier than the Clippers, but their individual players have had major up-and-downs. Julius Randle was dreadful the first couple weeks but has been very good since. RJ Barrett was very good, then awful, and has now right-sized. Jalen Brunson has been on fire from three but cold on shots at the rim. Quentin Grimes has been icy from three and has thus been benched for Donte DiVincenzo. Really, a lot has gone on with the Knicks, but they will play hard under Tom Thibodeau and they have a lot of talent, even with starting center Mitch Robinson out.
Notes
Coffey Time, Coffey Time: After playing just 67 minutes over the rest of the season, Amir Coffey started and logged 29 minutes on Thursday with Paul George out. Coffey scored 18 points with four rebounds, and, importantly, was a major threat from deep, taking 11 threes and making four. As long as he’s taking and making threes, Amir is a nice fill-in player around the Clippers’ main guys due to his defense and energy on the perimeter. He won’t always be that hot from the field, of course, but the willingness to get shots up is just as important. While I hope Paul George gets healthy soon, it would be great to see Amir continue to get further bites at the rotation apple.
Norm, Sizzling: I’ve never really been a huge Norm Powell fan. Players who are good scorers but don’t offer anything else don’t do a ton for me, since I think they get exposed in the playoffs and generally don’t add positive value when their shots aren’t falling. Norm is a below-average defender, an atrocious rebounder, and a complete non-playmaker. However, he’s been extraordinarily efficient this year, scoring the ball at a 63.4% True Shooting rate even though he’s getting to the line much less frequently. He’s shooting 43.4% from three (would be second best of his career), 53.9% from two (third highest), and has cut down on his turnovers compared to last year. I’m still wary about him being a big part of this team, but he’s been a positive player for the Clippers thus far.
Taking Schedule Advantage: The Knicks are on the second night of a back to back and are traveling to boot, coming over from Phoenix late yesterday. They’re a tough, good team, but these are the kinds of games that teams that purport to be contenders like the Clippers need to win. Make them play defense, get out and run, attack the rim, and seize the win.