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LA Clippers: What to watch for as the Atlanta Hawks come to town

By Nathan Jacobo

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 28: Vince Carter #15 of the Atlanta Hawks and Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers exchange handshakes prior to the game on January 28, 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 28: Vince Carter #15 of the Atlanta Hawks and Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers exchange handshakes prior to the game on January 28, 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Coming off of a tough two-game road trip against the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans, the LA Clippers make their way back home, hosting their next five contests at Staples Center.

Tonight is the game LA Clippers’ fans have been anticipating and waiting for since the night of July 5th.

Though he was listed as questionable heading into tonight’s game, Kawhi Leonard is expected to play and start alongside forward Paul George, marking the first time the two will step on the floor together as teammates on the Clippers.

Also listed as questionable is guard Patrick Beverley, who sat out Thursday’s game in the Big Easy.

He is also expected to play tonight.

The Clippers foes this evening are the (4-7) Atlanta Hawks, who are currently on a five-game road trip that ends tomorrow night against the Lakers.

Don’t let their record fool you, they boast one of the league’s deepest teams in terms of youth. They also have a second-year guard and trending upward to talks of already being a superstar in Trae Young.

Young is capable of going off every night as he is currently averaging 27.3 points per game and 9.1 assists per game.

On Tuesday night, the Hawks went into Denver and beat the Nuggets on their home floor. They have the talent and the coaching staff to compete in the East and against the Clippers.

Per the New York Times’s Marc Stein, Hawks forward Chandler Parsons will be making his Hawks debut. The Hawks will also be without the likes of second-year pro Kevin Huerter and forward John Collins, who is currently serving a 25-game suspension.

The Clippers need to come out sharp against Atlanta and execute on both ends of the floor. What has really been killing them lately on defense is their miscommunication on switches, thus leading to wide-open three-point attempts that always seem to be dropping.

The Clippers need to control the glass and limit the Hawks transition offense and pick-and-roll game.

It is going to be a fun one in downtown Los Angeles as Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Trae Young will all share the floor, battling each other on both ends.

What to also watch for is if Coach Doc Rivers decides to stagger his lineups (something he didn’t do in the Lob City Era). It would be nice to see one of Kawhi/PG on the floor at all times.

Another player that is in need of more playing time is center Ivica Zubac. In this starting lineup, he can excel tremendously by now having two superstars that are solid ball-handlers and deadly in the pick-and-roll game.

dark. Next. 3 reasons to not panic about the Clippers' slow start

Make sure to tune in and stay updated on the debut of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George playing together for the first time this season.

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