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What to watch for in the LA Clippers’ first meeting with the Lakers

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Kawhi Leonard #2, and Terance Mann #14 of the LA Clippers exchange hi-fives against the Denver Nuggets during a pre-season game on October 10, 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 Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Kawhi Leonard #2, and Terance Mann #14 of the LA Clippers exchange hi-fives against the Denver Nuggets during a pre-season game on October 10, 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 Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 16: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first half of a game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 16, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 16: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first half of a game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 16, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

How the LA Clippers plan to contain Anthony Davis

One of the biggest questions coming into Tuesday night’s game is how the LA Clippers expect to defend Anthony Davis. He’s one of the most dominant bigs in the league, and LA doesn’t have a go-to option to prevent him from doing what he does best.

That question isn’t exclusive to Davis, either. Teams with great bigs could be the Clippers’ weakness this season, and that could be troublesome if/when they meet them in the postseason.

Fortunately, we’ll get our first answer to that question tonight.

I spoke to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha about this, and he gave a better answer to the question than I could, so I’ll provide that below:

"We’ll know more after this Lakers’ game. I suspect the Clippers will try to single cover teams’ best bigs as best they can. If the defender — usually Ivica Zubac, JaMychal Green or Montrezl Harrell — gets into foul trouble, the Clippers will adjust and start to double team, zoning up on the backside. The challenge will be both protecting the paint (not giving up offensive rebounds or wide-open cuts for dunks/layups) and getting out to open shooters. I think there will also be zones on the floor where they double. The closer to the block a player is, the more likely a double is coming. The further out or up they are, the more likely the Clippers single cover."

Clearly, it’s going to take a combination of guys for the Clippers to stop someone like Davis or Joel Embiid from having their way in the paint. But if the Clippers have a better answer to that question, we’ll see it demonstrated here in a few hours.

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