With the LA Clippers opening their regular season against the cross-town rival, the long-awaited start is finally here. Fans all over the world have had their eyes focused on the Clippers for the past few months. While head coach Tyronn Lue will be aiming for a top seed in the Western Conference, the ultimate goal is to make a deep run in the postseason.
Moreover, regardless of who wins, there are several things to keep an eye on. The transition from a solid off-season to an eventful media day paved the way for a preseason full of bright spots. Fans have every reason to believe that this year will be the one the LA Clippers make history.
The title hopes of the Clippers rest on the contributions of the franchise superstar, Kawhi Leonard. However, he is not alone. His co-star, Paul George, and several others will have to focus all of their attention on one goal.
Furthermore, George has made it clear that he needs to win a championship at this point in his career. This gives fans another reason to be thrilled about the upcoming season. The talent, veteran experience, and coaching provides the LA Clippers with an edge over any team in the NBA. That said, all eyes are on the Clippers as they look to start the season 1-0.
Paul George acknowledges that his window his shrinking to win an NBA Championship, and that's why he's so focused this season.
— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) September 26, 2022
3. John Wall’s fit
The addition of John Wall was a strong move for the LA Clippers. The front office understood that after the Rajon Rondo experiment, it was time to get the Clippers a point guard who could contribute in various ways. Wall is the perfect fit, as he does just that.
Fans will be curious to see how Wall fits with the rest of the roster. One question remains unanswered: whether or not he will be the starting point guard on opening night. When Lue was asked about it, he mentioned that although he has decided, he wants to leave it a mystery before the game.
Ty Lue says he knows who he wants to start at Clippers point guard between Reggie Jackson and John Wall, but is keeping it internal heading into tomorrow night’s game vs. the Lakers.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) October 19, 2022
One aspect of Wall’s game that will attract the most attention is his shooting. Throughout the off-season, Wall displayed a fairly consistent jump shot. He walked into preseason extremely confident as he shot 40% from the three-point line on 1.7 attempts through three games.
If Wall can continue his exceptional three-point shooting, opposing teams will be clueless about shutting down the LA Clippers. The chemistry between Wall and the rest of the squad has been on another level.
As the first game of the season will demonstrate the start of something special, fans expect Wall’s debut to go down as one to remember. Wall’s energy will also be something to look for along as the Clippers will put on a show, letting the rest of the world know that the time is finally here.
2. Lue’s rotations
While a strong winners mentality stands for the LA Clippers, the minutes of players like Brandon Boston Jr, Amir Coffey, Luke Kennard, and several others remain uncertain. In only 48 minutes of basketball, there are only so many options Lue can look to when pushing for a win.
However, this is a great problem to have. This means that the LA Clippers have a handful of players who can contribute on a nightly basis. With this just being game one of the season, many months lie ahead. Injuries and illnesses are bound to happen, giving each player on the roster a chance to succeed.
The two-way wing Robert Covington is one player whose minutes should be monitored. Without Leonard last season, Covington only played 22.1 minutes per game since joining the Clippers at the trade deadline. This number should be much higher as his impact is significantly important.
Covington has some of the best hands in the league, giving the Clippers many more opportunities on the offensive end. In addition, he can shoot the basketball alongside the best of the best. In 23 games played for the LA Clippers last season, Covington shot 45.0% from three on 4.7 attempts per game.
These numbers are similar to Kennard, as well as some of the best shooters in the NBA. Covington should be playing at least 25 minutes per game, if not more. Lue could use his contributions as he can guard any position on the floor.
Along with Covington, fans should also track the minutes of Leonard as this is his first NBA game in over a year. Lue will be extremely cautious with his minutes, especially if the LA Clippers can win this game by a significant margin.
1. Kawhi Leonard’s two-way abilities
Since Kawhi Leonard went down with an ACL injury, LA Clipper fans have been anticipating his return. Despite winning up to the eighth seed last season, if Lue had Leonard in his rotations, they could have easily made a run at the NBA Finals.
After his play in the preseason, it is clear that Leonard should face no trouble in doing what he does best. His responsibilities will be critical as the Lakers will not be able to contain him. Leonard’s scoring, play-making, and defending will be too much to handle, especially if the LA Clippers are on fire from the three-point line.
The main goal will be to ease Leonard back into the rotation. This game will be led by George and the rest of the squad, as Leonard will still be preparing for an entire game of basketball. He will likely show many glimpses of the version fans received during the Clippers’ run to the Western Conference Finals.
Additionally, fans hope to see Leonard and George dominate the floor together. There are still concerns about the return of Leonard as an ACL injury requires an intense recovery routine off the court. Watching him go to work will give fans a strong sense of relief as the season continues.