LA Clippers have shot at winning again during Eastern road trip

Clippers vs Cavaliers – Dethrone the King

The Clippers and Cavaliers have both endured a lot of early season struggles, mainly due to injury.

Both squads got revamped this past offseason, as Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving both departed seeking championships elsewhere. In exchange for Paul, LA received an almost entirely new second unit from Houston, headlined by Patrick Beverley. Alternatively, the Cavs sent Irving to Boston, in exchange for All-Star Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, and a few others. Thomas is out until January with an injured hip, but the rest of Cleveland’s additions have made solid contributions.

Strangely enough, both the Clippers and Cavaliers are sitting outside of playoff contention at the moment. Cleveland has struggled particularly on the defensive end, allowing 112.1 points per game. Similarly, LA hasn’t been able to stop their opponents as of late, allowing an average of 112.9 points per game during their current losing streak.

In order to steal a victory from “The Land”, the Clippers will need to step up their defensive efforts. Cleveland has the NBA’s 5th-best offense, scoring just over 110 points per contest. If LA can force LeBron James into taking contested three-pointers and limit his possessions, they should be able to earn a W.