The Clippers dropped a game last night in San Antonio that will haunt fans (and possibly the team itself) for quite some time due to its absurdity, but the Clips will have to move on quick to ensure a win against the Grizzlies.
Game Information
Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tennessee
When: 5:00 PM PT
How to Watch: FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: Kris Dunn – Derrick Jones Jr. – Kawhi Leonard – Kobe Sanders – Brook Lopez
Grizzlies: Javon Small – Rayan Rupert – Jaylen Wells – GG Jackson – Olivier-Maxence Prosper
Injuries
Clippers: Jonn Collins Out (Neck), Yanic Konan Niederhauser Out (Foot), Bogdan Bogdanovic Questionable (Illness), Bradley Beal Out (Hip)
Grizzlies: Ja Morant Out (Elbow), Zach Edey Out (Ankle), Brandon Clarke Out (Calf), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Out (Finger), Santi Aldama Out (Knee), Taj Gibson Out (Conditioning)
The Big Picture
The Clippers dropped one of the most infuriating basketball losses you will ever see last night in San Antonio. On one hand, it was a road game against the second or third best team in the NBA and the Clippers were without several key players, so a loss is fine. On the other hand, they were up by 25 points in the second half, turned the ball over on a crucial inbounds where they could have gotten the lead, and then failed to box out the Spurs twice on free throws so that they didn’t even have a chance to win. It was comically embarrassing from all perspectives, and the type of loss that could only happen to the Clippers. It’s just one game, so hopefully the Clippers can learn, move on, and win a game tonight that is much more squarely in the “should get this one” category.
The Antagonist
The Grizzlies are probably the most competent and frisky of any of the teams that are actively trying to lose games, as they are 3-7 in their last 10 games and have been competitive in a number of their losses. Despite the lengthy injury report above, the Grizzlies are still playing a number of “real” players, including promising rookie Cedric Coward, well-rounded second-year Jaylen Wells, and competent veterans like Ty Jerome and Scottie Pippen Jr. The Grizzlies are losing games, but they are still fighting, and the Clippers can’t underestimate them, especially in Memphis. Still, if the Clippers are prepared and play organized, professional basketball, they should win this one.
Notes
Attack the Paint: Even diehard NBA fans might not recognize all the guys in the Grizzlies’ last starting lineup (above), but if you do, you’d notice there are no big men in that unit. Not only that, but even counting the guys who sat that game who seem like they’ll be active for this one (Pippen Jr, Jerome, Coward), there are no guys even approaching what you might call a “center”. The Grizzlies traded away Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jock Landale, and Edey and Clarke are injured, so they are basically out of big men. That means they play small and fast, which can be tough to guard, but it also means they have nobody with any size protecting the rim. The Clippers can’t settle for jumpers in this one; they have to relentlessly attack the paint, because they should be able to feast there.