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Surging LA Clippers have difficult, yet home-heavy, week ahead

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 8: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts to a play during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 8, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 8: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts to a play during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 8, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The LA Clippers have yet to lose a game this month, but with a difficult week ahead, they’ll need to lock in to keep the streak alive.

The LA Clippers have started the month of March with a bang, rattling off four straight wins against some of the more difficult opponents they’ll see for the rest of the season.

It all started on March 1, when the Clippers used a strong second-half performance to steal a win from the hungry Sacramento Kings. Both teams are fighting for a chance in the postseason, and the victory seemed to set the mood for the next few games.

Two days later (at my first Clippers home game), LA completely dismantled the New York Knicks in a 128-107 victory to begin (essentially) an eight-game home stand. Landry Shamet‘s seven three-pointers were key to building a lead in the first half, and the Clipper bench was as efficient as ever.

The following night, the team put another nail in the Los Angeles Lakers’ coffin with a 113-105 win. Patrick Beverley was a hound in the third meeting between the teams this season, recording five of LA’s seven steals and posting a game-best 94 defensive rating.

Most recently, the Clippers took down the Oklahoma City Thunder behind strong performances from Beverley, Lou Williams and Danilo Gallinari. Beverley again was strong on defense, while Williams and Gallinari combined for 74 of LA’s 118 points.

The win streak has given the Clippers a four-game cushion over the Sacramento Kings and has them in position to pursue a top-four seed in the Western Conference. That being said, it’s still not a given that the Clippers make the playoffs, and it’s almost certain that they’ll be near the bottom of the bracket if they do.

Several teams above them, including the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets, have more favorable remaining schedules than the Clippers do. Because of that, LA will need to make do with what they’re given.

That’s what makes this upcoming week of games so important.

From now through Sunday, LA will host four different teams — three of which are currently in playoff contention. Those teams are the Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets.

The Celtics, who the Clippers play tonight, are just 5-5 in their last 10 but have won three straight games against the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers — so it seems the Clippers are catching them at the wrong time.

There’s also a good chance that Boston will be out for revenge, seeking to avenge their prior loss to the Clippers from just before the All-Star break. LA should be prepared since they’ve had a few days to rest, but it should be a tight contest.

LA’s fight will continue Tuesday night, when they host the Trail Blazers on the second night of a back-to-back. Depending on what happens against Boston, this could end up looking like a scheduled loss, but don’t expect the Clippers to back down.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has played some of his best basketball against Portland this season, averaging 18.3 points in three games. If he can keep that up, a win could be within reach.

Following that, the Clippers will get two full days of rest before they host the Bulls on Friday.

Despite going 5-5 in their last 10 games, Chicago is a tanking squad that shouldn’t be expected to beat LA — especially since the Clippers already beat them once on the road this season. But because of its placement on the schedule, this one already has some of the makings of a trap game. If LA downs both Boston and Portland, it’ll become even more so.

Finally, on Sunday, the LA Clippers will host Brooklyn. The Clippers will get some schedule help here, since the Nets will play in Utah the night before.

LA will need to pay most attention to D’Angelo Russell and sharpshooter Joe Harris, but the Clippers outmatch Brooklyn for the most part.

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The LA Clippers should have a solid chance to win in each game, especially if they can get by the back-to-back unscathed. That probably won’t be the case though, and they’ll likely drop one of the two against either Boston or Portland en route to a 7-1 start to the month of March.

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