The Los Angeles Clippers open up the 2022-2023 season on the “road” against their rivals from down the hall, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Game Information
Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
When: 7:00 PM PT
How to Watch: TNT
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: Reggie Jackson – Paul George – Kawhi Leonard – Marcus Morris Sr. – Ivica Zubac
Lakers: Patrick Beverley – Russell Westbrook – Lonnie Walker IV – LeBron James – Anthony Davis
Injuries
Clippers: None
Lakers: Troy Brown Jr. out (lower back soreness), Thomas Bryant out (left UCL repair), Dennis Schroder out (right UCL repair)
The Big Picture
After a fairly successful preseason rotation-wise, the Clippers get their first crack at getting a win against a team they’ve beaten seven consecutive times. The last time the Lakers defeated the Clippers was back in 2020 on Christmas Day. The Clippers have undergone several changes since then as they look to keep their streak against their neighbor in tact.
This Clipper team is probably the deepest team they’ve had since they ushered in a new era following the removal of Donald Sterling. This Clipper team also represents the best shot at a championship they’ve ever had.
The one rotation spot that is still up for grabs, however, is the starting point guard spot. Up until the very end of the preseason, Tyronn Lue was non-committal in terms of who would start between Reggie Jackson and John Wall. Jackson is the veteran and fan favorite who has rejuvenated his career in LA. Wall is the one with something to prove and who had a very strong preseason. As of publishing, Lue indicated that he’d made up his mind as to who would start but would wait to reveal it until pregame availability.
Also, minutes restriction for Wall and for Leonard might be something to potentially watch for. The team has no real injuries to report other than Jackson is who is probable with a sore groin. Everyone is ready to go.
The Antagonist
If the Clippers are one of the deepest, most well put together teams in the league, the Lakers are anything but. They are a team that doesn’t seem to fit together and is lacking in certain areas, particularly when it comes to shooting the ball.
They have a couple of superstars in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but Davis hasn’t been able to stay healthy nor replicate his 2020 playoff run. Russell Westbrook hasn’t been able to find his niche on the team. He went from coming off the bench in preseason to starting against the Golden State Warriors and exclaiming how his recent hamstring injury may have been caused by having to change his routine to playing off the bench.
The Lakers were utterly humiliated and run completely off the floor on Tuesday against the Warriors. Despite their outlook as a team, they still have some talent and some pride. They’re going to come out ready to play in front of the home crowd and look to end their losing streak against the Clippers.
