Now that we know the schedule for the 2016-17 NBA season, here’s a look into the best Los Angeles Clippers games you need to watch in October and November.
This summer’s basketball stint at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics has taken a turn for the unexpected over the last few games. Team USA opened in typical fashion, exerting their effortless dominance over the likes of China and Venezuela to make 40-point wins look like something we could expect almost every night. Then, when Australia held a five-point lead at halftime in their preliminary game, Serbia followed by losing to USA just 94-91 and France persisted to lose only 100-97, it’s clear this Team USA isn’t exactly the newest “Dream Team”. So, let’s forget about their struggles and focus on the Los Angeles Clippers’ upcoming season.
The 2016-17 schedule is here, gifting us with another Golden State Warriors-Cleveland Cavaliers matchup on Christmas Day, accompanied by an L.A. hometown battle (albeit a one-sided one) between the Clippers and Lakers.
As always, there are too many good games to take note of. But, when focusing from the perspective of the Clippers, it’s far easier to pick out some key opponents, tough games, and entertaining matchups that you can keep an eye out for as the season slowly approaches.
Besides how such contests will challenge the Clippers, seeing how the new additions of Marreese Speights, Brandon Bass and Raymond Felton perform and fit in Doc Rivers’ rotation will be something to pay close attention to.
To break things down, looking into the first month of the season seems like a good way to start. With a few days of October first and several big games in November, let’s get started at the beginning before future articles look at the rest of the year.
Next: Season opener in Portland
October 27 @ Portland Trail Blazers
The main reason we have to start with this game is because, well, it’s the season opener. It’s kind of a big game by default. After months of not seeing the Clippers in action — even longer than recent years after an early, injury-ridden first round playoff exit — the season opener is a night when every team wants to start strong and begin their new campaign in the right manner. Starting as you mean to go on applies as much to the champion Cavaliers as the Lakers.
Why does this season opener resonate particularly strongly with the Clippers, though? Because it’s against the very team that eliminated them from the playoffs just a couple of months ago: the Portland Trail Blazers.
Their first round matchup was never a series that panned out in a fair, balanced manner, simply due to season-ending injuries to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin that came within minutes of one another in Game 4.
The Blazers were able to overcome generally cool shooting from Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum behind the impressive play of Al-Farouq Aminu and Mason “Point” Plumlee, while the role players stepped up.
Of course, winning games 5 and 6 to close the series wasn’t so challenging for them without Paul and Griffin on the floor.
Providing health is on the Clippers’ side as expected, this contest against the Blazers to begin the 2016-17 season should (ideally) go in L.A.’s favor. After an offseason that largely revolved around bringing the same team back and making some sound minimum acquisitions with Marreese Speights, Raymond Felton and Brandon Bass, the Clippers are facing a Blazers team that aimed sky high in free agency and came away disappointed.
Offers to Hassan Whiteside and Chandler Parsons came to nothing for Portland, leaving them with extortionately expensive backup offers to Evan Turner (four years, $70 million), while bringing back Allen Crabbe (four years, $75 million). It’s paired Lillard and McCollum with notable counterparts off the bench, but the Blazers have loaded just over 60 percent of their salary cap into their backcourt and little improvement has been made to the rest of the team.
With that in mind, it certainly isn’t too ambitious for Clippers fans to get excited for a 1-0 record after the new season’s first night.
Next: The showcasing of Westbrook gone solo
November 2 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Kevin Durant is out, Russell Westbrook is staying, giving the athletic phenom a completely undeniable claim to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
After renegotiating Westbrook’s deal to come to a three-year extension, the city and the Thunder have been saved, to an extent. Of course, nothing can replace the loss of Durant. The departure of a superstar scorer so rare and beloved cannot be fully compensated for by any amount of Westbrook ferocity.
That being said, now that he’s the undisputed leader of the team, capable of going fully supersonic with even more scoring and playmaking responsibility, motivated by the challenge of Durant’s departure, 2016-17 could be a special one for Westbrook. In terms of sheer gaudy statistics and breathtaking triple-doubles, Westbrook could deliver a year for the ages.
To get things started at the beginning of the season, his first test against an elite team will come against the Clippers on November 3. If the Thunder’s first three games against the 76ers, Suns and Lakers don’t pose much threat to an OKC team that’s still highly talented, how could a test against possibly the second best team in the Western Conference not be an exciting one for both the Clips and anyone (aka everyone) looking forward to Russ going mad against elite competition?
Alongside Victor Oladipo as a result of the draft night Serge Ibaka trade, Westbrook has a new backcourt running mate. The duo are immediately the most explosive guard duo in the NBA, and with Oladipo’s athleticism and hounding defensive ability combined with Westbrook’s overall energizer bunny impact all over the floor, the two should be able to tear past opponents in transition, make plays defensively, continually attack the basket and generally wear out their opponents.
Chris Paul and J.J. Redick, along with Austin Rivers‘ elevated defense off the bench, will have a serious handful taking on the Thunder’s backcourt. How they deal with such a duo will be one of the Clippers’ biggest tests at the start of the season.
For such a backcourt battle and Westbrook’s chance to make a statement against a top team alone, the Clippers taking on the Thunder in Staples Center is a game you won’t want to miss.
Next: The Clippers' closest competitor in the West
November 5 @ San Antonio Spurs
There’s no way around the fact that the closest contender to the Clippers in the Western Conference is the San Antonio Spurs. The Warriors are in a realm of their own after adding Kevin Durant. The fight for the 4th seed will be an entertaining one among up and coming contenders, but not one that will reveal a genuine title threat. The real contest among the elite is for the 2nd seed, a contest that is almost unanimously regarded as one between the Spurs and Clippers.
The Spurs won’t be the same as they were last season, though. Being a clear 1st place in defensive efficiency and ranking 2nd in opponent field goal percentage within five feet (per NBA.com) won’t necessarily happen again. In fact, it’s likely there could be a noticeable setback in terms of the latter statistic after the free agency they’ve had.
Tim Duncan, old but still so sound with precise, intelligent interior defense, has retired, leaving a new set of big men to protect the paint in his absence. LaMarcus Aldridge will remain as a focal point alongside Kawhi Leonard offensively, but he simply can’t protect the rim in the way that Duncan continued to do so last season.
Now accompanied by Pau Gasol and David Lee, slower, older, negative defenders will highlight the Spurs’ frontcourt. If there’s a matchup that could favor the Clippers in their battles against San Antonio, it’s the advantage that Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan have.
Griffin can take such opponents off the dribble when he isn’t bruising his way forward in the post, and the pick-and-roll potential with both could be devastating to players like Gasol and Lee when drawn away from the basket.
Even still, the Spurs are one of the top few teams in the NBA for a reason. Gasol is still a highly skilful offensive player, whose passing and mid-range game fits the Spurs’ style well. Meanwhile, the backcourt has remained in tact (despite age), they drafted well with Dejounte Murray, and Kawhi Leonard continues to expand his offensive repertoire as he tallies Defensive Player of the Year awards to fill his likely understated trophy cabinet.
The Spurs have changed, but they’re still formidable. Talent, depth and Gregg Popovich are still prevalent, and they’re the closest to the Clippers in the West. The Clips’ meeting on November 5, following an outing against the Grizzlies in Memphis the night before, can’t be missed. Playing on the road again also gives the Spurs a well-rested edge.
Next: Facing the NBA's most exciting team on the rise
November 12 @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Looking for a team to watch on League Pass? Add the Minnesota Timberwolves to your list.
Dunks from Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins aren’t the only reason now either. In fact, they aren’t even the top reason.
Karl-Anthony Towns is coming off one of the most impressive rookie seasons you’ll see, displaying the kind of two-way talent and composure that few rookie big men can. He’s beyond his years in the post — on offense and defense — and he can step out beyond the three-point line when he isn’t burying 50.6 percent of his jumpers from 16 feet. With such an impressive skill set already, being showcased above typical rookie level, Towns’ wowed NBA fans as the kind of versatile center that will grow to dominate the modern era.
That’s reason enough to watch the Timberwolves. Add in a great offseason in which they’ve added new head coach Tom Thibodeau, drafted top rookie point guard prospect Kris Dunn, and signed role players like Brandon Rush, Jordan Hill and the Clippers’ own Cole Aldrich in free agency, and it’s clear the Timberwolves are well and truly on the rise.
There’s a chance that Minnesota may even sneak into the playoffs as an 8th seed. That’s how good this youth movement is as the young core gets better day by day. More to the point, when considering the Clippers’ start to the season, the Timberwolves will be even more of a challenge.
Towns will have his work cut out trying to tackle Griffin and Jordan inside, but there’s no doubt that he’ll make life difficult for the Clippers as well, in particular with his fluidity and range to stretch the floor against Jordan. As for the other young talent, from LaVine and Wiggins to Ricky Rubio and Dunn at point guard, there will be athleticism and playmaking galore for the Clippers to deal with.
This is a game the Clippers should win, despite heading on the road. However, for a chance to watch the most exciting up and coming team as a fan of the NBA itself, you shouldn’t miss this one.
Next: Taking on the second best team in the East
November 21 vs. Toronto Raptors
The Eastern Conference continues to improve. The Boston Celtics added a new, versatile All-Star in center Al Horford, and the Indiana Pacers made a host of strong moves by adding Thaddeus Young, Al Jefferson and Jeff Teague. The Celtics in particular could certainly be the new 3rd seed, but the Toronto Raptors still have a talent edge as the second best team in the East.
Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan (on a fresh five-year, $139 million deal), DeMarre Carroll and Jonas Valanciunas still highlight the best starting lineup behind the LeBron James-led Cavaliers. With that kind of talent, complimented by role players such as Terrence Ross, Cory Joseph, Patrick Patterson, sophomore Norman Powell, new signing Jared Sullinger and rookie Jakob Poeltl, the Raptors should look similar to their franchise best season in 2015-16 (yes, Bismack Biyombo is a big loss, but a fairly inevitable one due to his value).
However, the Clippers’ starting lineup is on a higher level still, and the Big 3 and a solid group of role players gets them the nod in an early prediction for this game. Plus, as the second game in a home stint in L.A., the Clippers should be well rested and confident on their home court.
Jordan will be a smothering defender for Valanciuans to overcome inside or on the boards, leaving the toughest matchup for the Clippers coming down to Lowry and DeRozan.
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Against one of the top point guards in the league in Lowry, possessing even more agility after slimming down a year ago, Paul will have to keep up his All-Defensive First Team play to stop Lowry at the three-point line. As for stopping DeRozan, forcing him into his far-too-frequent long twos and contested driving lanes to DeAndre Jordan will be their best bet to limiting his scoring.
As we watch the Clippers look to start the season stronger than they did in 2014-15, contests such as the five listed will be both entertaining and key indicators as to how the new team is coming together.
And, as per usual, the Clippers’ game against the Memphis Grizzlies on November 4 will surely be a physical contest.
Next: DeAndre Jordan's importance to Team USA is rising
Besides the condition of Griffin and the team in general, focus on Doc Rivers’ rotations, how many minutes rookie Brice Johnson receives, and how Speights, Bass and Felton click early on.