Game # 48 LAC @ Miami Sunday 2/4 3pm

[PeteyPablo]

ByData Skrive
Feb 2, 2024, 11:04 pm
ESPN


Los Angeles Clippers (32-15, third in the Western Conference) vs. Miami Heat (26-23, seventh in the Eastern Conference)

Miami; Sunday, 6 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat take on Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers in a non-conference matchup.

The Heat are 13-11 on their home court. Miami has a 13-14 record against teams over .500.

The Clippers are 13-11 on the road. Los Angeles ranks eighth in the Western Conference with 10.4 offensive rebounds per game led by Ivica Zubac averaging 3.3.

The Heat are shooting 46.1% from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points lower than the 46.3% the Clippers allow to opponents. The Clippers are shooting 49.6% from the field, 2.1% higher than the 47.5% the Heat's opponents have shot this season.

The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Clippers defeated the Heat 121-104 in their last meeting on Jan. 2. Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points, and Adebayo led the Heat with 21 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Adebayo is scoring 20.5 points per game with 10.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Heat. Jimmy Butler is averaging 22.8 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 60.8% over the past 10 games for Miami.

Leonard is averaging 24.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals for the Clippers. Paul George is averaging 18.9 points over the last 10 games for Los Angeles.

[clipsfever]

Zu being upgraded to "Questionable" this early seems promising

Scary Terry shot 2-13 FG for the Heat on Friday

[Wammy Giveaway]

One win. Just one win. This one win. And Clippers will have achieved something they've never had before: an All-Star Coach. And it may be the hardest win of them all.

In the past, Clippers have always let down when they were one game away from something grand. Something that would finally give them the love, respect and worship they've always dreamed of. It's that daydreaming on the last day of business. This is why I think they always lose when they were one game away from a 3-0 automatic series win during the Lob City era. Always lose when they were one game away from finally advancing to the conference finals during the Lob City era. Always lose when they were one game away from achieving a very important milestone. Always, always, always lose when it's always one game away.

At first, I thought Clippers were playing a matinee game and said to myself, "They're gonna lose big time." Also, it's the Heat, a mighty underdog that can't be taken lightly, even as an 8th seed. They're also going to get distracted by the allure of a first-time All-Star coach for Clippers, which they've never had in their franchise history. And it had to be in the final year of the Staples/Crypto Arena as a renting tenant, how apt.

There's another motivation: Thunder, who Clippers traded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to for Paul George in order to sign Kawhi Leonard. They're also vying for that no. 1 seed. Both teams are being judge for the winner of the trade, not just on how far they go in the playoffs, let alone a championship; it may also require having to face each other in a playoff series to cement and validate their side of the deal. Thunder and Timberwolves have both had All-Star coaches before, Nuggets too (but they're out because they already coached last year).

Oh, and less I forget: yesterday, we had two new ejections posed on Spurs and Nets. 23 teams have had an ejection to a player or coach; only seven teams remain. Clippers still have zero but they're under a specific watch. Leonard or George get ejected, Thunder win the trade by default. Until I've completed my research, I am sticking with the "no team has ever won a title without a team experiencing an ejection from a regular season game" tagline.

I'll revisit the checklist during the All-Star Break. Til then, good luck.

[Dynamix]

Rozier has been really struggling with his shot after the trade, so he'll probably be on fire against us. That doesn't mean we shouldn't win, but the last games of a long road trip are always tough, so this B2B will be a good test.

Thought for sure Zu would be targeting a return right after the AS break, now apparently there's a chance we might see him even before returning to LA. When's the last time one of our players was so far ahead of schedule?

I'm afraid to type out the words "maybe this really is our season". Keep expecting something nasty to happen when we're at our highest, a fear that's been on the back of my mind ever since we traded for Harden.

I'll just stop thinking too far ahead and try to enjoy every game.

[wakelaunch1]

big game. we beat them without Butler. They have a new team now and most of their roster is healthy.

[ERClips]

Expect a bounce back game from Harden in South Beach. Plus we have that Kawhi guy.
Probably be close but we should win this

[wakelaunch1]

Expect a bounce back game from Harden in South Beach. Plus we have that Kawhi guy.
Probably be close but we should win this

Harden in south beach with a day off. yikes. I dont expect a good game from him

[clipsfever]

Oh Me Oh My

Read on Twitter

[Scoundreldays]

Oh Me Oh My

Read on Twitter

I didn't expect till after all star break. Amazing

[esqtvd]

It's on Channel 5 as well.

[HardenGoat]

Big game. Hoping the Zubac/Harden roll game comes back without a hitch. That dynamic really solidifies the flow and spacing for the team. Bam of course is the challenge. This game could be the key to the first seed.

[HardenGoat]

Oh yeah .. Let’s Goooooooooo!!!!

[KL2]

Terrible start. Yikes.

[HardenGoat]

Hunting the mismatch is iso heavy and shots are off. Try the PNR Ty

[ERClips]

2nd unit will do it’s thing. So nice to have that all star reserve #2

[KL2]

I’m tired of Kawhi getting tapped/pushed when going for those dunks. He looked mad too.

[ERClips]

I’m tired of Kawhi getting tapped/pushed when going for those dunks. He looked mad too.

The lack of respect for KL by refs is off the charts. Only way to get it is trade him to the Lakers

[KL2]

Better finish to the quarter.

Need to cut the turnovers down and find a way to get some easy shots.

[Wammy Giveaway]

Look in front of you. Clippers are doing that "one game away from [accomplishment]" thing again. They can't let up just because of the allure of a first time Clippers All-Star coach; gotta get the job done. Defeat the Heat.

[ERClips]

As poor as we’ve played so far & now up 1? Trouble for Miami