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Clippers vs Sixers Preview: Does the Slide Continue?
The Clippers have lost two games in a row in horrific fashion, and will now take on the victors in one of those games, the Sixers, on the road in Philadelphia.
Game Information
Where: Wells Fargo Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
When: 4:30 PM PT
How to Watch: ESPN, Watch ESPN, Bally Sports SoCal
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
Sixers: Tyrese Maxey – Kyle Lowry – Kelly Oubre – Tobias Harris – Mo Bamba
Injuries
Clippers: None
Sixers: Joel Embiid Out (Knee), De’Anthony Melton Out (Back), Robert Covington Out (Knee), Kelly Oubre Questionable (Shoulder)
The Big Picture
The Clippers’ slide has finally resulted in what has felt
like the inevitable for weeks – their loss of the 4 seed to the rising
Pelicans. Not just that, but the Kings, Mavs, and Suns are all within striking distance
of the Clippers. It’s very unlikely all three teams would pass the Clippers,
but the Clippers could certainly drop to 6, or even 7, if they don’t turn things
around soon. It’s not looking good, folks, but hopefully the Clippers will
improve down the last leg of the season with real pressure on them.
The Antagonist
The Sixers have fallen from the top of the East to the
middle of the play-in due to Joel Embiid’s injury as well as injuries to Melton,
Covington, and other key players. However, they have won just enough games to
keep themselves out of the lower half of the play-in bracket. They are also
just a game and a half back of the Pacers in 6th, and if they’re
able to get healthy in the regular season, it’s possible they make a push out
of the play-in entirely. Every game matters a lot to the Sixers, and they will
be playing very hard to keep their heads afloat with a dozen games to go.
Notes
Does Small-Ball Continue: The Clippers’ rotation adjustment against the Pacers on Monday with Russell Westbrook back in the lineup was to go small with their second unit, eschewing Daniel Theis or Maso Plumlee in favor of PJ Tucker at center. Predictably, while these units moved faster and had more spacing, they completely sacrificed rim protection and rebounding without really even boosting perimeter defense. I think PJ only really works on offense without another big man, but I don’t think those lineups are tenable on the other end. I don’t think Ty Lue scraps that approach after just one game, but it will be interesting to see if it does any better moving forward.
Hunting Cam Payne: For whatever reason, Cam Payne kills the Clippers, probably just because he’s fast. Regardless, it’s irritating and a very bad sign for the Clippers’ defense. A solution is actually available on offense, where the Clippers could relentlessly pick on Payne, who is 6’0 tall and 185 pounds on a good day and is food on defense. If they target him by getting their wings (or even Russell Westbrook) on him, they should be able to play him off the floor. He’s not a good player and the Clippers should be able to punish him on defense. Or they could just go right at the Sixers’ best defenders and bash their heads into a wall, as is their modus operandi.
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Clippers vs Sixers Preview: Does the Slide Continue?
Robert Flom