The Clippers’ second preseason game is against the Portland Trail Blazers, and while this one still doesn’t count for anything, it should feature the full new Clippers’ lineup for the first time.

Game Information

Where: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington

When: 7:30 PM PT

How to Watch: KTLA, AM 570

Projected Starting Lineups

Blazers: Damian Lillard – Anfernee Simons – Josh Hart – Jerami Grant – Jusuf Nurkic

Clippers: Reggie Jackson – Paul George – Kawhi Leonard – Marcus Morris – Ivica Zubac

Things to Watch

Clippers’ Starters: I don’t want to entirely repeat what I said in the preview for Friday’s game before we learned most of the Clippers’ key players wouldn’t be playing in that one, but it’s still mostly valid. I think Marcus Morris starting is very likely, but it’s possible Nic Batum gets the nod, or the Clippers go small with Norm Powell plus a point guard. As for the starting point, I do think it will be Reggie, but it’s very possible John Wall gets the start instead. Either way, I can’t wait to see the Clippers’ actual team suiting up and playing together again, even if it’s in a meaningless preseason game.

Kawhi Leonard Returns: It’s preseason, but it’s still exciting – yes, even for me – that Kawhi Leonard is officially back. I’m sure you all don’t need reminding that he missed all of last season, and that it’s been about 17 months since we last saw him play in a Clippers’ jersey. With that much time off, Kawhi should be fully recovered from his ACL injury, but will definitely still need to knock some rust off. Or maybe not? With players of Kawhi’s caliber and work ethic, who knows.

Fringes of Rotations: Who will start and the health of the Clippers’ stars, especially Kawhi Leonard, are paramount for Clippers fans. However, there are still some edges of the rotation to be sorted out. It is just about impossible for all three of Luke Kennard, Terance Mann, and Amir Coffey to be in the rotation, and it’s quite possible just one of them is. Coffey is probably the odd man out, but it will be interesting to see how Ty Lue handles the minutes of his backup guards and wings.

New-Look Blazers: The Clippers will probably never think about their previous preseason opponent, Maccabi Ra’anana, ever again. The Blazers, a Western Conference rival, are a different matter. The Blazers have done a bit of a roster reshuffle, swapping out numerous bench players and adding two promising rookies in Shaedon Sharpe and Jabari Walker. Their biggest addition, however, is veteran forward Jerami Grant, who is very familiar to the Clippers from his days on the Thunder and Nuggets. Grant brings size and defense to the Blazers, but they’re still a small team in the backcourt with Lillard and Simons, and it will be interesting to see how Chauncey Billups balances offense and defense for Portland. As always, not much to take away on any Blazers’ players in particular, but I am excited to see Sharpe and Walker (who I wanted on the Clippers) in action.

That about does it for this preseason preview of the Clippers taking on the Portland Trail Blazers. Leave your comments below!

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