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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, CA – OCTOBER 10: Landry Shamet #20 of the LA Clippers handles the ball against the Denver Nuggets during a pre-season game on October 10, 2019, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 10: Landry Shamet #20 of the LA Clippers handles the ball against the Denver Nuggets during a pre-season game on October 10, 2019, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The return of Landry Shamet’s three-point shot

It’s always risky to take too much away from preseason games, especially if a player’s history suggests the opposite of whatever ongoing issue is true.

That said, I’d be lying if I sat here and wrote that what I saw from Landry Shamet during the LA Clippers’ five preseason games didn’t leave me feeling at least a little bit concerned.

In those five performances, Shamet connected on just 5-of-30 three-point field-goals. That’s an astonishingly low number, especially for someone who made over 42.0 percent of his looks from deep during his rookie season.

However, I wouldn’t expect that to carry over into the regular season. Preseason games are mostly meaningless, and it’s possible that Shamet was just working the kinks out. After all, he had similar struggles during his first preseason with the Philadelphia 76ers last year.

Assuming Shamet gets the start against the Lakers tonight, he should get plenty of open looks from three-point range. Kawhi Leonard’s gravity should be enough to keep defenders from giving Shamet their undivided attention, and considering how quick the 22-year-old guard is, he should have no issue creating enough space to get a shot off.

Shamet will play an important role for LA this season, so it’s crucial that he brings the same kind of shooting to the table this season that he did during his stretch with the Clippers in 2019.

Next. What NBA 2K20 says will happen in LA Clippers v. Lakers. dark

The LA Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers will take the floor tonight at 7:30 p.m. PDT at STAPLES Center. This one is technically a home game for the Clippers, so if you’re heading downtown soon, be sure to rep your team!

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