Game 30: LA Clippers vs Portland Trailblazers
Monday, December 17 at 7:30 PM
Last season: Trail Blazers won series 3-1
While the Clippers made significant changes to their roster this offseason, the Trailblazers for the most part, did not. They drafted Anfernee Simons but lost Ed Davis and Shabazz Napier to the Brooklyn Nets. They also added Seth Curry (who is hoping to make a comeback this year after missing time due to injury last year). Simons will likely play few minutes due to an abundance of shooting guards on Portland’s roster.
What can you look forward to? Our guard dous (yes, plural) versus their guard duo. Be excited to see Patrick Beverly and Avery Bradley clamp down on Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. One of our lockdown defenders’ greatest challenges of the season will be presented on this night. Be even more excited if Shai & Jerome get minutes together against the Blazers duo.
Portland will have the schedule advantage in this matchup. The Blazers have two days of rest versus the Clippers’ one.
LA’s only victory against Portland was when Blake Griffin hit a last second three-pointer to win the game just before time ran out. The Clippers lost by eight points or more in every other matchup last season.
Prediction: The Clippers will fall short to a strong Portland team. The Blazers rest advantage will also play a factor in this matchup.