Clippers to rest four starters vs. Jazz, may have 8 players

The Los Angeles Clippers are focused on the playoffs and will sit four starters, including Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, against the Utah Jazz on Friday. And due to other rest and injuries, they may only have eight players.

The Los Angeles Clippers will hardly look like themselves on Friday. With no pressure of the chance to change seed in the Western Conference as the playoffs approach, they can solely look to the postseason rather than fighting hard in the last few games of the regular season. Because of their situation, they’ll be resting their four best players in Chris Paul, J.J. Redick, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan against the Utah Jazz on Friday.

Dan Woike of the Orange County Register has reported Doc Rivers’ choice, mentioning Wesley Johnson‘s absence, too:

"Friday’s game in Utah won’t be a normal one for the Clippers, with 80 percent of their starting lineup staying behind on the trip.Paul, Redick, Griffin and Jordan all will sit out against the Jazz, a game Utah needs to win in its quest for a playoff spot. Wesley Johnson will also rest because of a plantar fasciitis flare up in his left foot."

Well, if the Clippers want to hand an opponent a win, sitting four starters is a pretty good way to do it. Against a lower team such as the Jazz, the San Antonio Spurs’ elite bench may be able to get away with this tactic. But for the Clippers, sitting Paul, Redick, Jordan and even an off-form Griffin makes it blindingly obvious that Doc is only worried about having his key guys well rested.

And that’s the strategy he should be employing. As the Clippers (4th seed in the West) sit four wins behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and a comfortable eight wins ahead of the 5th seed Memphis Grizzlies, there’s no need to push hard for wins that don’t really mean anything.

More from Clipperholics

• Grade the trade: Clippers shockingly land Trae Young in wild proposal
• 3 of the most overpaid players on the LA Clippers’ roster
• Trading for this player covers the Clippers’ biggest weakness
• How will the LA Clippers fare in the in-season tournament?
• Why the LA Clippers should steer clear of recent gold medalist waiver

Perhaps Doc is willing to sit so many players in order to get a little revenge on the Houston Rockets for that comeback over his 3-1 series lead in the playoffs last year. By almost handing a victory to the Jazz (the 8th seed at 39-39), the Clipper’ losing Friday’s contest has real ramifications on who could make the playoffs. Because sitting in 9th place at a majorly disappointing 38-41 are the Rockets, desperately hoping the Jazz lose to the Clippers rather than seeing them get an easy matchup against all reserves.

Well, maybe Doc isn’t being that vengeful. But it’s a narrative that adds a little fun to Friday night at least.

Beyond the four starters and Johnson, Austin Rivers (ankle) and Jeff Green (knee contusion) being questionable. If they sit, the Clippers will have only eight players.

The only starter where rest is partly problematic is Blake Griffin. He needs time to find form, up his conditioning, and gel with the team again after missing three months with injury, and he won’t find that in only a few regular season games with limited minutes before the playoffs start.

Next: Blake Griffin says he feels 'a step behind'

For the sake of rest and health, though, Doc is limited with his choices. Griffin just needs to be on the court as much as possible, but the next couple of weeks is purely a waiting game in seeing how the Clippers come together and how ready their superstar power forward is performing come playoff time.