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Clippers vs Suns Preview: Let’s Try That Again
The Clippers got embarrassed by the Suns on Thursday night, but will be back home and with James Harden tonight, so hopefully the result is very different.
Game
Information
Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California
When: 7:30 PM PT
How to Watch: ESPN, FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570
Projected
Starting Lineups
Suns: Jalen Green – Devin Booker – Grayson Allen – Royce O’Neale – Mark Williams
Clippers: James Harden – Bradley Beal – Derrick Jones Jr. – Nic Batum – Ivica Zubac
Injuries
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Out (Ankle), Jordan Miller Out (Hamstring), Kobe Sanders Out (Knee)
Suns: Dillon Brooks Questionable (Groin)
Notes
The Power Forward Starting Spot: We all love Nic Batum. He’s a beloved role player and is someone the coaching staff and everyone on the team trusts. Nico is still a positive defender, and even though the shots haven’t been falling so far this season, they will at some point. However, the Clippers just desperately need more juice, especially with Kawhi out. Collins has been a bit of a mixed bag, but he adds scoring, size, and athleticism that the Clippers could really use, and I think he should start with Kawhi out.
Get Zu Going: Among all of the players who have disappointed to start the season, perhaps the most puzzling is Ivica Zubac. His numbers are down across the board so far and his defense has also been significantly worse than it was last season. Zu is healthy, in his prime, and is the longest player on the team, so continuity is no excuse. It’s not like Zu has been awful, but when the Clippers had injuries or issues last year, Zu was always there to pick the team up on his back – and that has not been the case early this year. I’d love to see the Clippers feed Zu early, get him going, and push him to a dominant performance against a Suns team that should not be able to guard him inside.
Play with More Force: I think one of the main differences between this season and last season is that you don’t feel the Clippers on either end of the floor, and especially on defense. Last year’s Clippers squad had a toughness and a physicality that made them a difficult opponent almost every night. This year’s group has just not mustered that same approach even with a relatively similar roster. The Suns are not a big team, nor are they all that physical or athletic (even compared to the ancient Clippers). It would be great if the Clippers came out tonight and set a ton on the defensive end with pressure and real force instead of letting the game come to them.