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Clippers vs. Trailblazers Preview: Season Begins
The Clippers preview their 2024 campaign with a home game against the youthful Portland Trailblazers.
Game Information
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
When: 7:30 PM PT
How to Watch: Clippervision, Bally Sports SoCal
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: Russell Westbrook – Paul George – Kawhi Leonard – Nic Batum – Ivica Zubac
Blazers: Scoot Henderson – Anfernee Simons – Shaedon Sharpe – Jerami Grant – Deandre Ayton
Injuries
Clippers: Terance Mann out (ankle), Bones Hyland questionable (ankle), Brandon Boston Out (calf)
Blazers: None
The Big Picture
The Los Angeles Clippers get set to open the 2023-24 regular season at home in a season where there’s probably the least amount of expectations in the Kawhi Leonard/Paul George era. Since the duo was formed ahead of the 2019-20 season, the Clippers have been one of the favorites among media and fans alike as a contender for the NBA championship.
Four years later, injuries have stymied any championship hopes to this point, and this year’s version of the Clippers is more like a wait and see approach. Speaking of injuries, the Clippers did suffer a major blow this week when it was announced that Terance Mann would miss opening night against the Portland Trail Blazers. Mann suffered an ankle injury during practice. He had just won out as the fifth starter and was primed for a big season. Clipper Nation will certainly await any updates moving forward.
Despite that, the vibes and mood from training camp has been nothing but good. There seems to be more of sense of urgency to get off to a good start to the season. Leonard is healthy and ready to play and the Clippers got a full training camp with Russell Westbrook.
The Clippers have been saying all the right things during camp and preseason, now it’s up to them to go out there on the court and back it up. They have a good chance to start the season on the right foot against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on opening night.
The Antagonist
The Portland Trail Blazers come into the season looking radically different. This is a brand new era for the team, having traded franchise cornerstone Damian Lillard in the offseason. They will now focus on rebuilding around a talent young nucleus that includes No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, and Deandre Ayton.
This is a team that’s going to come out playing loose, free, and with nothing to lose. They’re young, they’re athletic and they’re going to be looking to run. The Clippers have struggled with defending in transition although the team has talked about playing with a quicker pace this year.
The key to this matchup will be how the Clippers are able to contain the Blazers’ youthful guards as well as Ivica Zubac limiting Deandre Ayton’s effectiveness. Limit the Blazers transition opportunities and take away the middle. If the Clippers can force the Blazers to beat them in the halfcourt, that bodes well for an opening night win.
Clippers vs. Trailblazers Preview: Season Begins
David Yapkowitz