LA Clippers return from All-Star break with road game into Memphis

The All-Star break is officially over, and the LA Clippers will resume their race for the playoffs with a road game, taking on the struggling Memphis Grizzlies. The fight for the 8-seed in the Western Conference is extremely tight, with the Clippers, the Lakers, and the Kings all in serious contention. Oh, and this will be the first game they’ll play against Avery Bradley after trading him to Memphis.

There are 23 games left for the LA Clippers, and if owner Steve Ballmer’s to be believed,  there’s going to be a fight for each and every game. After a round of media appearances, the former Microsoft CEO has made it clear that, despite all the reasons to do so, the Clippers have zero intention of tanking.

The first test of this post-ASG playoff run takes place in FedEx Forum, still down Luc Mbah a Moute (sigh) and Wilson Chandler, though both are presumed to be returning at some point in this season. However, neither will be traveling with the team for this two-game road series.

The Grizzlies are 4-6 of their last ten, losing their last two. There’s speculation that Memphis is in the throes of a late-season tank for a shot at Zion, but if the Clippers are actually gearing up for a playoff fight, you can bet that they will not be taking Mike Conley and company lightly. Head-to-head, the teams are currently tied 1-1 with two games left in the series.

With one of the weaker remaining strength of schedules left, the Clippers have an open runway to sneak into the playoffs at the 8-seed, presumably into a first-round matchup against the Golden State Warriors. (Whether one considers that a good thing or not is entirely up to personal interpretation.) It’s going to take a major effort, but as it stands now, FiveThirtyEight projects a 62% chance of the LA Clippers making the playoffs. (The Lakers: 28%. The Kings: 9%.)

Let’s see what they do.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• The Youth Is Finally Getting Their Due: After coach Doc Rivers‘ notorious distaste for putting younger players in the starting rotation, there’s been a complete about face with the post-Tobias Harris/Avery Bradley roster. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Landry Shamet and Ivica Zubac will all be starting alongside Patrick Beverley and Danilo Gallinari. Having three out of the five starters being aged 21 and younger on a Rivers-coached team is pretty much unheard of, but Doc seems somewhat firm on this. For now.
• So, Hey, Avery…: This will be the first time Avery Bradley will be squaring off against his old team post-trade, and earlier Bradley complained that his role on the LA Clippers was too limited. We certainly have had a few things to say about that, but after averaging 29.9 minutes per game, it’s a bit rich to claim “I was the cutter and a guy that just really sat in a corner” when your shot chart looks like a Jackson Pollock painting.Also, less than 10% of his possessions were as a cutter, but whatever. Look to see matchups on SGA and Landry Shamet. We’ll finally find out if he’s truly “unstatable.”
• Player Development: Since the trade deadline, this break has really been the first time that a good portion of this new roster has been able to actually practice together. Doc said before the break: “We need [practice] desperately. We just need to get on the floor and run a play that everybody actually knows.”With some actual time together, look especially to see how Ivica Zubac is fitting in with the rest of the rotation, as well as shot distribution between Gallo and Shamet.