Los Angeles Clippers 2018-2019 Schedule Breakdown: November

Game 8: LA Clippers at Philadelphia 76ers

Thursday, November 1 at 4:00 PM

Last season: 76ers won series 2-0

The LA Clippers start November on the road, continuing a road trip they began in Oklahoma City, against the up-and-coming Philadelphia 76ers.

Although Philadelphia didn’t do much to get better in the draft, their core remains intact, albeit with a stronger bench unit. In July, the Sixers went out and got Wilson Chandler to shove behind Robert Covington at the small forward position. There’s also Markelle Fultz, who looked better and better as the season went on, and could be a fringe-Sixth Man candidate this season.

The Clippers don’t necessarily match well with the Sixers, either. Ben Simmons towers above Patrick Beverley, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might not be ready to defend such talent just yet. And with DeAndre Jordan’s departure, Joel Embiid will continue to control the paint.

LA does have a few advantages against Philadelphia, however. Assuming Avery Bradley is the starting two-guard, J.J. Redick will struggle to create. Tobias Harris and Danilo Gallinari fared very well against Philly’s forwards as well, averaging nearly 40 combined points per game last season.

Ultimately, this game may come down to the bench units — in which case, the Clippers would prove victorious. One of Beverley/Gilgeous-Alexander paired with Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell is a lethal combination, and one that the 76ers aren’t equipped to handle.

This game will be close, but I’m going to give it to the Clippers.