Comments on: Clippers vs Kings Preview: Please Win This One

By: John Maclean

John Maclean — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 03:50:17 +0000

Nuggets just did us a major solid in holding off the Blazers tonight.

By: Thretch

Thretch — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 20:46:03 +0000

I disagree. If the 4th quarter had been closer, they might have given Collins more minutes, especially given his productiveness. Not that I’m a huge Ty Lue fan, but he did reduce Lopez’s minutes so he might have been flexible on other aspects as well.

Also, I’m not really worried about the message you’re sending to a 21-win team who is already playing a non-optimal line-up.

We’ll just have to wait and see how they line-up vs Dallas and thereafter. The Clips have struggled in several games recently, so I’m not about to criticize a new line-up that DIDN’T struggle.

Yes, I like Collins a lot and want him to play more, but I’m also wary that he’s been fragile recently.

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:32:07 +0000

I believe Collins played only about 10 mins in the first half. If they do that against Portland or a play in matchup they’ll be headed to Cancun quick.

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:31:09 +0000

Once you put a guy on a 2nd unit, you’re essentially relegating that player to under 30 mins and probably closer to 24/25, because then coaches want to see rhythm develop among the units, rather than a plug n play system which addresses the match up you have to deal with. Starters just generally tend to get more minutes than reserves. If you make Collins a reserve, then you’re telling the opponent that less skilled, more specialized players are going to get the bulk of minutes at his positions.

By: Thretch

Thretch — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:27:53 +0000

When the 4th quarter is all garbage time, I don’t really have any take-aways regarding minutes distribution.

By: zhiv

zhiv — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:16:15 +0000

Isn’t Collins coming off the bench just a way of staggering his minutes with Lopez while IJax is out? And reviving Dunn (and some defensive energy) is an added bonus.

Lopez was down to 19 minutes, and Collins played more, 24 minutes. Yes, it was a blowout. Getting Lopez’ minutes way down was a big priority for a bunch of reasons.

Collins would get more minutes if it wasn’t a blowout, going over 30. And he was sharp, getting back to his high-level play and shooting.

I can’t imagine that Collins wouldn’t be a starter if IJax was available, and there was anything resembling a backup center. The other thing, I guess, is that there’s an energy (and defense) boost from Dunn, which is a counter to the lethargy in the previous Portland game. The games this week will all be interesting, with DAL a good test before the key rematch against POR.

I think I heard that IJax has a high ankle sprain. Those take longer to heal. He might be available to for the GSW finale, as a warm up for the Play In. We’ll know more about the status and approaches after the DAL game.

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:59:17 +0000

Game vs Dallas tomorrow, then OKC, then Portland, followed by GSW. The game that matters is Portland. I think LAC will need someone other than Lopez to set the high screen for Garland. If Kawhi does it, you’re just getting switched onto Jrue, which isn’t ideal. Best shooter we have to be credible and effective in that role is Collins. He’ll be guarded by someone that Garland can get around more easily on a switch. Collins can also hit jumpers and attack the rim. If it’s not Garland, then start Sanders. I just don’t think DJJ is going to be able to deliver the credible offensive threat one needs against Portland if they load up on Kawhi/Garland.

By: Oodypkt

Oodypkt — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:08:26 +0000

Feel good win and we need every one of them.
We might stumble into JC as small ball 5 with the absence of I-Jax.
He can be the focal point of the second unit.
Surrounded him with switchable guys with size and skills like Miller, Sanders and Ben and you have flexible line up in the waiting.
You can add DG for playmaking, Dunn & DJJ for defensive chops and Kawhi for…well being Kawhi.
I hope we have the first 9 in this game as the main guys in the rotation. With Batum and I-Jax to add more size and physicality in the front court.
Mavs game is gonna be tough. Hope our guy shows up and ready for this game. Let’s see.

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:15:53 +0000

On the positive side, good to see Sanders get some real minutes. He was productive.

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:36:23 +0000

LAC won the game by a big margin, but I didn’t like the lineup change of moving Collins to the 2nd unit. I hope it’s not a thing that Lue will continue (but knowing Lue, he’ll take the fool’s gold of this win as a license to continue it). It’s a gimmick move that makes a key player pay the price for the fact that Dunn wasn’t effective on the 2nd unit and DJJ couldn’t cover for Garland getting blown off the dribble.

You’re not winning play in or playoff games with Collins playing only 25 mins.

We still gave up 59 points in the first half to a tanking team. I don’t think the move validates much other than Lue got Dunn to be useful again. I think Lue could just start Dunn and move DJJ to the 2nd unit.

If LAC has Kawhi and Garland on the floor, they’re going to beat bad teams b/c those teams can’t guard them the way a good team will, and they’ll just feast on all of the shots that they can create and make with the space provided.