The Clippers return home after a brutal five game in seven night stretch to face the Eastern Conference powerhouse New York Knicks.
Game Information
Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, California
When: 7:00 PM PT
How to Watch: Peacock, NBC Sports Network, FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570
Projected Starting Lineups
Knicks: Jalen Brunson – Josh Hart – Mikal Bridges – OG Anunoby – Karl-Anthony Towns
Clippers: Darius Garland – Kris Dunn – Derrick Jones Jr. – Kawhi Leonard – Brook Lopez
Injuries
Knicks: Deuce McBride Out (Core), Landry Shamet Questionable (Neck)
Clippers: Jonn Collins Out (Neck), Yanic Konan Niederhauser Out (Foot), Bradley Beal Out (Hip)
The Big Picture
One day after blowing a massive lead to the Spurs, the Clippers came back from a 19-point deficit to snag a win from the Grizzlies. It was an odd game, as the Clippers went away from Brook Lopez to play Isaiah Jackson a lot as well as some small ball with Kawhi at center. They also closed the game with only two starters on the court, playing Jackson as well as Jordan Miller and Bennedict Mathurin alongside Kawhi and Derrick Jones Jr. Still, a win is a win, and the Clippers were able to work their way to just one game back of the Warriors for the 8th spot in the Western Conference. They now start a five-game homestand, which hopefully will help propel them past the Warriors in the standings.
The Antagonist
The Knicks have been one of the streakiest teams in the NBA this season, alternating between looking like the best team in the Eastern Conference and an utter disaster with poor chemistry on and off the court. Right now, they’re more in the former category, going 7-3 in their last 10 games with wins over the Nuggets, Spurs, Raptors, and Rockets among others. Despite their inconsistencies, for the season the Knicks have the look of a title contender – they are 5th in the NBA in net rating (behind the Thunder, Pistons, Spurs, and Celtics), with the 3rd rated offense and 7th rated defense. They are a team composed almost entirely of players in the prime of their careers, and are getting solid contributions from youngsters such as Mohamed Diawara and Tyler Kolek when called upon. On the wrong night they can look awful, but they’re a very good team on balance.
Notes
Lopez on Hart: One of the most common ways that opponents defend the Knicks’ potent five-out offensive attack is to put their centers on Josh Hart and forwards or wings on Karl-Anthony Towns. The Clippers might utilize this tactic, as having Brook Lopez chase after Towns on the perimeter seems like a recipe for disaster. Now, the Knicks have gotten clever at exploiting such defensive mismatches, mostly via playing through Hart in pick and roll and with handoffs, but it is something I think the Clippers will try, especially if KAT starts cooking from deep. The Clippers could also play smaller, as they did at times against the Grizzlies, but that is dangerous against a Knicks team that can attack the offensive boards.
Nico Fading: Nic Batum has played six or fewer minutes in three of the Clippers’ past four games, with the lone exception being the Spurs loss when the Clippers were very shorthanded. Considering John Collins didn’t even play in any of those games, that does not bode well for Nico’s playing time when things get serious. As someone who has been a huge Nico advocate since shortly after he arrived in LA, it’s tough to say this, but it really might be time to phase him out of the rotation entirely when Collins returns. There will be nights where Nico’s combination of size on defense and shooting is needed, but his defense has slipped this year, and the Clippers’ overall lack of playmaking and creation is exacerbated with Nico on the floor. The Clippers need to find time for Garland, Dunn, DJJ, Kawhi, Collins, Lopez, Mathurin, and Jordan Miller, and that doesn’t count Kobe Sanders (the Clippers have shown they will go away from him) or Isaiah Jackson (it’s tough to go small with this roster). If Jordan slows down or becomes unplayable in big moments Nico could move ahead of him, but right now he’s the 9th man at best in the rotation. The coaching staff and team trust Nico a lot, so he will still get his chances, but this is the most I’ve felt he’s at the fringes of the rotation since he first came to the Clippers all those years ago.
