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Three things to look for in LA Clippers’ first preseason matchup

By Garrett Chorpenning

LA ClippersKawhi LeonardPatrick BeverleyLou Williams(Photo by Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
LA ClippersKawhi LeonardPatrick BeverleyLou Williams(Photo by Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 29: LA Clippers Jerome Robinson (1), left, and Rodney McGruder (19) listen to teammates being interviewed by the media during the LA Clippers annual media day at the Honey Training Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 29, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 29: LA Clippers Jerome Robinson (1), left, and Rodney McGruder (19) listen to teammates being interviewed by the media during the LA Clippers annual media day at the Honey Training Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 29, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images) /

Load Management Lineups

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George’s absence from the rotation tonight unfortunately means that Hawaiian fans of the LA Clippers won’t get a chance to see the team’s new stars suit up. However, it’ll ultimately be better for the long-term health of both players, as well as the coaching staff. Because without their two best players, the Clippers will get a chance to show who they can be without them.

Normally, that wouldn’t be something worth paying too much attention to. Obviously, it’s good to know if you have reliable backups in the event of an injury, but LA’s bench forwards will have another responsibility on top of that: Taking over in load management situations.

Tonight, we’ll get our first chance to see who is winning those all-important positional battles, as well as which players the Clippers consider to be the most capable of stepping up when they’re needed.

Most people seem to anticipate that Maurice Harkless and Rodney McGruder will be the two players joining the starting rotation, as they fit both positionally and in terms of talent. They’re also both familiar with starting roles — Harkless was part of the Portland Trail Blazers’ starting rotation for all but seven games last season, and McGruder started in 45 of the 66 games he appeared in for the Miami Heat in 2018-2019.

Both Harkless and McGruder are versatile defenders that are capable of guarding multiple positions. McGruder can defend 1-3 with ease, while Harkless is more suited to handle 2-4. Assuming the Clippers go with Patrick Beverley and Landry Shamet at the guard positions, expect McGruder and Harkless to line up next to them at small and power forward. Ivica Zubac should start at center as well.

This isn’t the only group that LA could go with, either. Harkless could easily slide over to the wing in favor of JaMychal Green playing the power forward position, which would give the Clippers plenty more size, length and shooting.

Because the Clippers prioritized versatility this offseason, there are several other lineups that could work and could be seen tonight as well. These two seem the most likely at the moment, but that will probably change as we get further into the preseason.

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