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Clippers vs Pistons Preview: Things Are Bad Right Now
The Clippers are playing their worst basketball of the entire season right when things are at their most critical for the postseason race, and now have to take on a strong and fearless Pistons team on the second night of a back-to-back.
Game Information
Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California
When: 7:30 PM PT
How to Watch: FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570
Projected Starting Lineups
Pistons: Cade Cunningham – Tim Hardaway Jr. – Simone Fontecchio – Ausar Thompson – Jalen Duren
Clippers: James Harden – Bogdan Bogdanovic – Kris Dunn – Nic Batum – Ivica Zubac
Injuries
Pistons: Jaden Ivey Out (Leg), Tobias Harris Out (Personal), Isaiah Stewart Probable (Back)
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Out (Rest), Norm Powell Out (Hamstring), Derrick Jones Jr. Doubtful (Groin), Ben Simmons Doubtful (Knee), Trentyn Flowers Out (G-League), Patrick Baldwin Jr. Out (G-League), Seth Lundy Out (G-League)
Notes
Everything is Bad: The Clippers are just not playing right now, and the worst part is that there is a mass confluence of factors. First, it has to be noted that the Clippers are without leading scorer Norm Powell, their second-best perimeter defender in Derrick Jones Jr., and deadline addition Ben Simmons. Second, Kawhi Leonard, while he has been effective at times on offense, has not displayed anywhere near his usual impact on defense or on the glass. Third, Amir Coffey, who was so important to the Clippers’ success in the first half of the season, is struggling mightily on both ends. Fourth, Kris Dunn, the team’s best perimeter defender and an indispensable part of their defense, can’t hit threes consistently and clearly has some shaken confidence on offense. Fifth, James Harden looks gassed. Sixth, Bogdan Bogdanovic, the team’s biggest acquisition at the deadline, has been inconsistently on offense and consistently bad on defense. I could keep going! Very little is going right for the Clippers right now, and they need to turn things around very, very quickly or they might fall out of the postseason race entirely.
Clippers vs Pistons Preview: Things Are Bad Right Now
Robert Flom