The LA Clippers and Phoenix Suns sit on opposite ends of the Western Conference standings, though Los Angeles will need to remain focused to come out on top.
On paper, the Phoenix Suns look like a matchup dream for any team looking to keep a winning streak alive. Outside of Devin Booker and rookie big Deandre Ayton, there really isn’t much production coming from this team. That’s a large part of why they rank 28th among the league in points per game.
The Suns, though, are one of those weird bad teams. The kind of bad teams that lose just about every game, but play exceptionally well against peak competition. In a way, they’re always looking for an upset.
Three of Phoenix’s four wins have come against some of the more elite teams in the NBA this season, in the Spurs, Bucks, and Grizzlies. They topped San Antonio by 20, and beat both Milwaukee and Memphis by two points each.
On the flip side, that same Suns team also lost by 22 points at home to the Brooklyn Nets, gave up 131 points to the Los Angeles Lakers, and 124 to the Chicago Bulls — the 29th ranked scoring offense in the league. They also have the league’s worst road record at 1-9.
In short, they’re as up and down as teams come — which is why the LA Clippers need to prepare for a fight tonight at home, regardless of what their record shows.
Luckily for the Clippers, the Suns defend almost as poorly as they shoot. Their 114 allowed points per game places them in the bottom five, and their 28th-ranked defensive rating is obviously nothing to brag about.
Meanwhile, the Clippers have been relying mostly on their offense to beat teams. Their 116.8 points per game ranks fourth in the NBA. And while LA may give up more points than expected, the team is still holding opponents to the lowest field goal percentage in the NBA. The defense shows up when it matters, too:
https://twitter.com/LAClippers/status/1066110113281449984
In order to earn their ninth home win of the season, the Clippers just need to stay focused. The Suns may look like a scheduled win, but this LA team has struggled against those kinds of teams this season. Just over a week ago, it took two massive fourth-quarter comebacks for the Clippers to defeat the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks.
Sharing the ball and limiting turnovers will be vital. Phoenix has been solid when it comes to forcing turnovers, and chances are they’ll be aggressive as they seek an upset of the West’s top team. The Clippers committed a franchise record-low four turnovers on Sunday against Portland, so don’t expect a repeat performance, but that’s a promising sign entering tonight’s game.
On defense, LA needs to force Phoenix into difficult shots — which means chasing them off the three-point line and putting up a formidable effort in the paint. The Suns rank 10th in field goal percentage, so limiting those easy looks will be essential.
Ultimately, LA needs to lock in. They’ll face the Sacramento Kings tomorrow night, one of the league’s more surprising teams, and the Clippers need to be wary of looking ahead for their next chance to make a statement. After all, a win is a win in this league. It doesn’t necessarily matter how easily they come.
The LA Clippers will face off with the Phoenix Suns tonight at 7:30 PST at STAPLES Center. LA is an 11.5 point favorite, according to ESPN.