Although the LA Clippers made several errors in game one, head coach Tyronn Lue did his job behind the scenes and addressed these issues. This made the game-plan much easier as Lue was set to face off against the Sacramento Kings in his second contest of the season.
Furthermore, the LA Clippers were missing superstar Kawhi Leonard and two-way point guard John Wall. Without these two, Lue would face a difficult challenge against a young team with the Kings. The Clippers’ secondary star, Paul George, even mentioned in the off-season how the Kings could make a ton of noise in the Western Conference.
Aside from the obvious Western Conference contenders, Paul George also named the Sacramento Kings as a 'team that could give you fits' in response to a question about how tough the West will be.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) September 26, 2022
As predicted, the Kings battled til’ the very end. George did just about everything he could, leading the Clippers to a win. In a game where all the lights were shining bright, George posted 40 points, six rebounds, and six assists, while shooting 16-31 from the field in a total of 39 minutes. Without his wizardry, the Clippers would have struggled significantly.
Despite the win, George did not have much help. While players like Reggie Jackson, Ivica Zubac, and Luke Kennard starred in their roles, no player took a step forward on either end of the floor. Before exiting the game due to foul trouble, Morris appeared to be next in line. This was the main reason the game came down to the final minute.
On the first night of a back-to-back, the LA Clippers played phenomenally in a divisional rivalry versus the Kings.
Within this game, what stood out most was how quickly the LA Clippers corrected their mistakes from opening night. The biggest problems were turnovers and free throws. Against the Kings, the LA Clippers only turned the ball over 13 times and shot 90.9% from the free-throw line.
If Lue had a full roster to work with, there is a good chance that the LA Clippers would have cruised past the Kings. However, allowing Leonard and Wall to rest ahead of the home opener against the Suns could play a massive role in the season’s 3-0 start.
The most underrated player of the night was the defensive specialist, Robert Covington. The impact that he brings on both ends is something that uplifted the Clippers against Sacramento. In only 22 minutes, Covington contributed eight points, seven rebounds, and two steals while only attempting three shots. Nights like these add to how valuable Covington can be under the spotlight.
Following two impressive wins by the Clippers, it is fair to say that things are going as planned. Not only are they winning games, but they have proven how deep their roster truly is. If Lue keeps this up, the LA Clippers will, without a doubt, crush many franchise records this season.