With just 8 games on the schedule, how will the LA Clippers finish out the regular season?
Last Friday night on ESPN, the NBA announced and unveiled the schedule for the “seeding games” that will take place in Orlando. The LA Clippers strength of schedule ranks middle of the pack as 5 of their 8 opponents are over .500.
Today, we will take a deeper dive into the Clippers last eight games of the 19-20 Regular Season. So far the Clippers first seven games are scheduled to be on primetime networks (ESPN, TNT, NBATV).
The one game that all LA sports fans have circled on their calendars is the fourth and final match-up between the Lakers and Clippers. Both teams open up against each other on July 30th and with that, let’s get started in analyzing and predicting the outcome.
Game 1: Los Angeles Lakers vs LA Clippers
Kicking things off with the Battle of LA only this time in Orlando. The Clippers took games 1 and 2 only for the Lakers to answer back win the last meeting between the two teams.
Not taking any credit away from the Lakers that day but both teams shot poorly (thank daylight savings for that) and Avery Bradley exploded for 24 points.
Having Bradley not joining the Lakers is a blow to their starting lineup but the team is looking to replace him with veteran swingman J.R. Smith.
Now looking at this next matchup, I fully expect both teams to come out sloppy considering it’s the first game that they’ve both played since March 10th.
Going down 3-1 to the Clippers would be a bad look for LeBron and the Lakers but best believe they will do everything to win this meaningless regular-season game.
Something tells me that the Clippers will most likely treat this game as a warm-up since their chances of getting the 1st seed are slim.
Through three games against the Lakers, I still believe that the Clippers haven’t played all their cards yet in terms of coverages and defenses to defend LeBron and Anthony Davis.
Should both teams meet in the Playoffs, expect the Clippers to unleash Kawhi Leonard and Paul George but for this first game back they shouldn’t see that much floor time.
I give this game to the Lakers.