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LA Clippers: Three things to watch for in tonight’s season opener

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 9: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers shows a serious face against the Denver Nuggets during a pre-season game on October 9, 2018 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 9: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers shows a serious face against the Denver Nuggets during a pre-season game on October 9, 2018 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PLAYA VISTA, CA – SEPTEMBER 24: Boban Marjanovic #51, Avery Bradley #11 and Tobias Harris #34 of the Los Angeles Clippers share a laugh on media day at the Los Angeles Clippers Training Center on September 24, 2018 in Playa Vista, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
PLAYA VISTA, CA – SEPTEMBER 24: Boban Marjanovic #51, Avery Bradley #11 and Tobias Harris #34 of the Los Angeles Clippers share a laugh on media day at the Los Angeles Clippers Training Center on September 24, 2018 in Playa Vista, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

A Unique Opportunity

Because of all the injuries last season, tonight will be the first time that the LA Clippers deploy a lineup featuring Beverley, Bradley, Tobias Harris, and Gallinari, four of the team’s six best players.

It’s hard to believe, given the amount of time that each of these players has spent with the team. Beverley and Gallinari both arrived prior to the beginning of last season, and played only a handful of games together. Bradley and Harris both arrived together as a part of the Blake Griffin trade, and again, played just six games together before Bradley required season-ending sports hernia surgery.

The group was good for roughly 55 points per game last season, and that’s with Bradley and Gallinari both averaging near-career-lows. It’ll be interesting to see how they all work together.

Surely coach Doc Rivers will get crafty with his lineups tonight, and this won’t be the only unique rotation we see on the floor tonight. We may also see Beverley play alongside Marjanovic, another possibility that hasn’t been explored yet.

Of course, this will also be Jerome Robinson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s first regular season games in the NBA. Considering the circumstances it takes to crack an NBA roster, it’s special enough that they’re here in the first place. And since the two project to have significant roles with this year’s team, each should get a chance to make an impact tonight for the LA Clippers.

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