Clipperholics
Fansided

What to watch for when the LA Clippers travel to Houston

By Ethan Smith

HONOLULU, HI - OCTOBER 03: Maurice Harkless #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers and Ben McLemore #16 of the Houston Rockets battle for position under the basket doing a free throw at the Stan Sheriff Center on October 3, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii. 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. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
HONOLULU, HI - OCTOBER 03: Maurice Harkless #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers and Ben McLemore #16 of the Houston Rockets battle for position under the basket doing a free throw at the Stan Sheriff Center on October 3, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii. 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. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The LA Clippers and Rockets have an interesting history as of late and the rivalry will add another chapter when Kawhi Leonard and company head to Houston to face off against James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Here is what you should be looking for in a matchup of two of the best in the West.

The Clippers and Rockets both sport 7-3 records through their first ten games of the season, but both teams have been winning in very different ways.

The Clippers for instance have used stout defensive play and efficient offensive scoring to defeat teams like the Lakers and Trail Blazers while the Rockets have basically outscored their competition with two of the game’s best isolation scorers.

Ironically, this matchup pits a very solid Clippers defense against a high-powered Rockets offense. James Harden, who will likely see matchups against Patrick Beverley and Kawhi Leonard, is averaging 37.3 points per game and has produced the most points in a 10-game span(373) in the last 50 NBA seasons. Meanwhile his teammate Russell Westbrook is averaging 21.9 points per game while four other Rockets players are above the 10 points per game threshold.

The Clippers of course sport one of the best defensive teams in all of basketball, sitting 10th in points allowed per game and and 11th in defensive efficiency. The Clippers also sit 8th in opponents field goal percentage and middle of the pack in steals and blocks. Despite this though, the Rockets defense is very lackluster, surrendering an average of 118.4 points per game, so expect this game to be a track meet and a fantasy basketball lovers dream.

If Kawhi Leonard plays, this matchup will likely come down to which duo of scorers plays the best between Leonard and Lou Williams and Harden and Westbrook. The Rockets do put up a ton of points but the Clippers do so in a much more efficient way than Houston and that will likely decide the game, can the Clippers defense force the Rockets into bad decisions and mistakes.

This matchup will see the likes of Paul George and Landry Shamet sidelined with injury but George is expected to make his debut Thursday in New Orleans. The Rockets will be without Eric Gordon and Danuel House Jr., leaving ample opportunities for the Clippers to shift their focus even more heavily on Harden and Westbrook.

Expect both teams to come out of the gates hot and playing a back-and-forth game, but if the Rockets defensive struggles continue, expect the Clippers defense to buckle down once again in the fourth and potentially pull away with the victory.

Next. Which of Kawhi’s supporting cast is the best?. dark

The Rockets have won three of the last five against the Clippers and lead the all-time series 121-78, meaning this meeting will be the 200th between the two sides. The matchup will air live on ESPN at 4:30PT.

Home/Clippers News