GAME #34: LAC (21-12) @ PELS (21-14) FRI 1/5—5 PM

[esqtvd]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[Bobbymcgee]

Both teams played last night and both teams are off today. Both teams are riding a 4 game win streak. But, the Pelicans are always a tough matchup for the Clippers for some reason. Clippers really need to step it up on defense for this game and keep that win streak going a little longer.

[jengmann3]

i agree. For whatever reason the Clippers don't seem to matchup well with this team. Ingram plays well against Kawhi, and there is no great matchup for Zion. I actually think Kobe Brown or PJ(I know this is not a realistic possibility) would be good matchups.

[clipperlover]

i agree. For whatever reason the Clippers don't seem to matchup well with this team. Ingram plays well against Kawhi, and there is no great matchup for Zion. I actually think Kobe Brown or PJ(I know this is not a realistic possibility) would be good matchups.

What are you talking about? Harden is the Zion equalizer. Harden will see Zion's porn stars and raise him some strippers.

[donemilio21]

Read on Twitter

how many games is that? since Russ went to bench I believe it's been 20 games, Kawhi missed a few. so if we call 15, that's around 17 mpg. I don't think that's a lot for a starting 5. But we have also seen Russ and Norm closing out games, and they have been effective.

[esqtvd]

Read on Twitter

how many games is that? since Russ went to bench I believe it's been 20 games, Kawhi missed a few. so if we call 15, that's around 17 mpg. I don't think that's a lot for a starting 5. But we have also seen Russ and Norm closing out games, and they have been effective.

Read on Twitter

[donemilio21]

Per NBA Advanced Stats https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/traditional?PerMode=Per48&TeamID=1610612746&dir=D&slug=traditional&sort=PLUS_MINUS:
Out of all 5 man lineups we featured in at least 5 games or more this season and for at least 20 minutes, and there are 12 of them;
Most efficient: Harden-PG-Kawhi-Norm-Zu ; 13 games total of 68 minutes, outscoring opponents by 35.4 points per 48 minutes.

Least efficient: Westbrook-PG-Norm-Theis-Kobe; 6 games total of 25 minutes, getting outscored by 45.2 points per 48 minutes.


Most used: J. Harden - P. George - K. Leonard - I. Zubac - T. Mann lineup for 260 minutes +16.6 per 48min
2nd most used: R. Westbrook - J. Harden - P. George - K. Leonard - I. Zubac for 70 minutes. -24.1 per 48min
3rd most used: J. Harden - P. George - K. Leonard - N. Powell - I. Zubac for 68 minutes. +35.4 per 48min

I think the sample size is just still too small to read much into it.

[esqtvd]

Both teams played last night and both teams are off today. Both teams are riding a 4 game win streak. But, the Pelicans are always a tough matchup for the Clippers for some reason. Clippers really need to step it up on defense for this game and keep that win streak going a little longer.

In this latest Kawhi rebirth, the Clippers have been looking younger and more athletic. Ty emphasized transition defense in last Sunday's practice, which was the Clippers last practice for weeks. EXACTLY what needed to be worked on because our halfcourt efficiency on offense AND defense are both top of the table. Which portends well for the playoffs, when the game slows down to a crawl.

______________________
ADD: watching TNT

Postgame DEN @ GSW

BARKLEY: Clippers are the scariest team in the West.

SHAQ [looking away, golf clapping]: You've been saying that for the last 7 years.

...

BARKLEY: Kawhi is playing as well as anybody in the league.

Etc. When healthy, etc.

Gotta say I just love Shaq. You gotta be brilliant to keep a national TV gig when you mumble as much as he does.

And Barkley is like ALWAYS WRONG. That's why he has to keep working, even though he wants to retire. Gambling losses.

[KingCrimzzon]

i agree. For whatever reason the Clippers don't seem to matchup well with this team. Ingram plays well against Kawhi, and there is no great matchup for Zion. I actually think Kobe Brown or PJ(I know this is not a realistic possibility) would be good matchups.

The Pels size seems to be an issue and for some reason Valanciunas becomes the next coming of A. Sabonis v. the Clips. In particular, keeping them off the Offensive Glass has been an major problem. Seems like a good time for Ty to try big ball lineups since Plumlee is back.

[esqtvd]

BI = Brandon Ingram

Read on Twitter

[Wammy Giveaway]

i agree. For whatever reason the Clippers don't seem to matchup well with this team. Ingram plays well against Kawhi, and there is no great matchup for Zion. I actually think Kobe Brown or PJ(I know this is not a realistic possibility) would be good matchups.

The Pels size seems to be an issue and for some reason Valanciunas becomes the next coming of A. Sabonis v. the Clips. In particular, keeping them off the Offensive Glass has been an major problem. Seems like a good time for Ty to try big ball lineups since Plumlee is back.

Their only hope of defeating the Pelicans is to get Valanciunas ejected from a game. His previous ejection occurred in the 2022-23 season vs. Wizards on their home floor, assessed a flagrant foul type-2 for elbowing Taj Gibson in the head on a layup attempt. As far as research goes, it may be his first career ejection. Impact: Pelicans lost that game.

The last game had three techs called on Hyland, Westbrook and Leonard. Nobody on the roster wants to play too tough because they have a reputation to protect, a Good Samaritan Spurs image to portray to erase decades of the Sterling era. Even though I am still stressing that they should avoid ejections at all cost (which is what they're only good at), that rule will have to be broken if they finally want to win over Pelicans, just in case they draw them in the playoffs, a team they could easily lose to just because they failed to take New Orleans seriously since tanking for Zion Williamson.

[PeteyPablo]

from my naked eye, it seems the Pelicans just outwork the Clippers. They come out with a ton of energy.

Maybe try putting some length on Ingam and let Zion go ham. Stop Ingram and Valencunas with size and double teams. Let Zion go wild.

[Scoundreldays]

Hopefully Valencunas won't shoot like Steph Curry tonight. I like the strategy of going hard on BI and let Zion work. He will tire himself out.

[KL2]

Zu with the nasty. Holy moly.

And that’s the nicest thing you can say about this game.

[wakelaunch1]

lazy unmotivated start

[wakelaunch1]

till westbrook

[Max Headrom]

How in the hell is that a jump ball?????

[KL2]

Westbrook all over the place. Much needed energy.

[HardenGoat]

Russ is bringing it. Managed to save the first quarter

[nickhx2]

russ doing max impact things right now

and he keeps on going, great pass to kawhi for the easy bucket