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What to watch for as LA Clippers host Golden State Warriors

By Brian Cullen

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 24: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against the Golden State Warriors on October 24, 2019 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 24: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against the Golden State Warriors on October 24, 2019 at Chase Center in San Francisco, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PLAYA VISTA, CA – SEPTEMBER 29: Kawhi Leonard #2, Paul George #13, Patrick Beverley #21, Lou Williams #23, and Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers pose for a portrait during media day on September 29, 2019 at the Honey Training Center: Home of the LA Clippers in Playa Vista, 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)
PLAYA VISTA, CA – SEPTEMBER 29: Kawhi Leonard #2, Paul George #13, Patrick Beverley #21, Lou Williams #23, and Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers pose for a portrait during media day on September 29, 2019 at the Honey Training Center: Home of the LA Clippers in Playa Vista, 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) /

2. A change in effort during a winnable game.

After getting their teeth kicked in by Memphis and almost blowing a fourth-quarter lead to New York over the weekend the Clippers gut check came with a valuable lesson- there are no easy wins in the NBA. The depleted Warriors are a far less inferior team both on paper and in the standings. Only one year removed from being a scrappy underdog team, the Clippers have likely learned that no W will be handed to them.

In fact, over the weekend the team addressed it in some of their post-game pressers. Montrezl Harrell, possibly the most vocal about putting more effort into the games against sub-.500 teams.

The contest on Friday against Golden State won’t have some of the built-in challenges that the last two games had- namely the back to back tip-off time. But the Warriors are not a team to take lightly. Without their all-star championship backcourt, they still can surprise. On Christmas day Golden State pulled off a massive upset win over the Houston Rockets.

Behind the guidance and mentorship of form Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green, the Warriors are top five in the league in steals. Despite having one of the worst team defenses in the league, the Warriors still can exploit and capitalize off the Clippers turnovers. Being lackadaisical with the ball cannot be afforded by the Clippers in this matchup.

LA seems to have an affinity for throwing fullcourt passes to a running teammate which has ended in a turnover most of the time. Unless that pass is going to Ivica Zubac the pass is going to a player 6’9″ or smaller, which is easy to pick off by longer defenders.

Some rest and time together running offensive schemes should help tighten up the decision making and cut down on missteps and errant passes.

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