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The Week Ahead: LA Clippers have difficult slate coming up

By Garrett Chorpenning

PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 26: A close-up view of the back of Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers jersey during a game against the Phoenix Suns on October 26, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 26: A close-up view of the back of Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers jersey during a game against the Phoenix Suns on October 26, 2019 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The LA Clippers have difficult matchups coming up this week, which is highlighted by a back-to-back against the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs.

Thus far, the LA Clippers have not had the easiest start to their 2019-2020 campaign. Save for a dominating win over the surprisingly bad Golden State Warriors, the Clippers have had to fight hard in each of their games so far — one of which resulted in a loss.

We’re still a bit surprised that the Phoenix Suns played as well as they did Saturday night, but it should come as even more of a surprise that the Clippers played as poorly as they did. There were plenty of missed rotations, there wasn’t enough effort being given, etc. It was rough.

Unfortunately, things won’t get much easier as they get into their second week of NBA action, which kicks off tonight with a home matchup against the Charlotte Hornets.

If there’s a game this week that feels the most winnable, it’s this one. The Hornets played Sunday night in Los Angeles against the Lakers, and now have the Clippers tonight. A road back-to-back against two of the league’s best teams is a difficult test for any team, let alone the Hornets, who are expected to be among the league’s worst this season.

It’s also Los Angeles, and, you know. Nightlife.

As far as individual matchups go, the Hornets don’t have a single player that can defend Kawhi Leonard, and none of their bench players should be able to stack up against the likes of Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell. Against the Lakers Sunday night, Charlotte’s bench recorded just 17 points.

Assuming the Clippers defeat Charlotte, they’ll go into Wednesday night’s game against the Utah Jazz with a 3-1 record.

Like the Lakers, the Jazz should prove to be another early test for LA.

Unlike the rest of the NBA, Utah wins games with its defense, which is holding opponents to a league-best 90.3 points per game so far this season. That’s largely due to the presence of Rudy Gobert, a seven-foot center that most players have difficulty scoring on.

Offensively, Utah hasn’t lived up to expectations just yet. Mike Conley, Utah’s biggest offseason acquisition, has shot just 23.7 percent from the floor 17.6 percent from three-point range to start the year.

As a whole, the team has shot efficiently, ranking in the top 10 in both field goal and three-point percentage.

Utah’s defense will challenge LA to work from the inside out, where the Jazz are a more vulnerable team. If the Clippers can get their shots to fall from range and convert at the free-throw line, they’ll have their best shot at winning this game.

LA won’t get a break after they travel to Salt Lake City, because right after that one finishes up, they’ll head back to Los Angeles for a date with the San Antonio Spurs Thursday night — their third game in four days.

Typically this would have been a game that Leonard rested last season due to load management, but that doesn’t appear to be the case with the Clippers. He’s said that he doesn’t plan to be on any sort of load management schedule now that he’s fully healthy, so we should get our first chance to see how he plays in back-to-backs.

The Spurs have played against some porous defenses so far this season, but they’ve beaten both the New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards by averaging 122 points per game.

Most of their offense comes from LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan, but 23-year-old point guard Dejounte Murray has had an impressive start to his season as well, averaging 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.

The Spurs will also have a significant rest advantage against the LA Clippers as well, which could be troubling. They host the Portland Trail Blazers tonight, but have Tuesday and Wednesday off to prepare for their matchup with LA.

The Clippers are talented enough to take down all three teams, but the Spurs game will be played under some difficult circumstances, even if it is taking place in Los Angeles.

Next. Three things to watch for against the Charlotte Hornets. dark

A 2-1 record this week seems like the most likely outcome, though if both the Jazz and the Spurs get the best of the LA Clippers, then they’ll be down to .500 entering another difficult stretch of the season.

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