The Clippers take on the Nets for a second time just a week after squaring off against them. However, it’s a new year, and while the calendar year might not mean much for the NBA, it’s still a time for beginnings and restarts. Hopefully the Clippers can get their 2022 off to a good start. Keep reading for a full preview of the Clippers’ game against the Nets.
Game Information
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
When: 4:30 PM PT
How to Watch: Bally Sports SoCal
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: Reggie Jackson – Luke Kennard – Terance Mann – Marcus Morris – Serge Ibaka
Nets: James Harden – Patty Mills – Kevin Durant – LaMarcus Aldridge – Nic Claxton
Injuries
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Out (Knee), Paul George Out (Elbow), Nic Batum Out (Ankle), Isaiah Hartenstein Out (Ankle), Ivica Zubac Out (COVID Protocols), Brandon Boston Out (COVID Protocols), Jay Scrubb Out (COVID Protocols), Moses Wright Out (COVID Protocols)
Nets: Kyrie Irving Out (Conditioning), Joe Harris Out (Ankle), Kessler Edwards Out (COVID Protocols), Day’ron Sharpe Out (COVID Protocols)
The Big Picture
The Clippers sit at 6th in the West with an 18-18 record, but are only four losses up on the 11-14 seeds, who are all tangled together at 22. They will need to keep winning games at a .500 or just under .500 clip in order to stay ahead of the pack, and with the number of players on their injury sheet, such a winning percentage is unlikely with the schedule they have coming up. Fortunately, players should be out of protocols fairly quickly with the new guidelines, and Batum’s ankle injury also hopefully shouldn’t keep him out too much longer. If they can get most of their rotation back outside of Kawhi and PG in the next week or so, they can probably at least stay in the play-in race in the West before the cavalry arrives.
The Antagonist
The Nets are tied for first place in the Eastern Conference with a 23-10 record despite plenty of their own injury woes. Their record speaks to the excellence of Kevin Durant (as well as James Harden lately), as well as the contributions they’ve received from role players such as Patty Mills and LaMarcus Aldridge. With most of their players out of COVID protocols, the Nets are really only waiting on third star Kyrie Irving, who needs to get back into shape after his months-long absence. Still, they’re great without him, and with Harden rounding into form, are one of the toughest teams to defend in the NBA.
Notes
Coffey-Time, Coffey-Time: After receiving scattered playing time over the first two months of the season, Amir Coffey has played at least 23 minutes in each of the last five games. And, to nobody’s real surprise, he’s played well, chipping in at least eight points (including a sterling 15 last night) in each game and contributing as a rebounder (in all but last night’s game) while bringing his usual energy and defense. His versatility in playing across positions has greatly helped Ty Lue with constructing lineups, and hopefully he’ll be a part of the Clippers rotation even after they get healthier.
Reggie-Bledsoe Duo Failing: Reggie Jackson and Eric Bledsoe have each had good stretches of play for the Clippers this year, with Reggie’s coming early on and Bledsoe playing better of late. However, they have very rarely played well on the court together. Theoretically, Bledsoe’s ability to get downhill and to the rim should pair well with Reggie’s shooting and secondary creation. In practice, Bledsoe hasn’t had the ball in his hands enough to get any sort of rhythm, and the offense has devolved into too many Reggie jumpers. It’s not all on Reggie – Bledsoe was simply bad at the start of th season, showing tentativeness in attacking the rim and settling for too many jumpers himself. Fully healthy, the Clippers probably won’t play the two together much. But with George and Leonard out, they need this guard duo to be better as a group.
Serge Struggling: Despite the absences of Ivica Zubac and Isaiah Hartenstein (and even Moses Wright), Serge Ibaka played only 18 minutes yesterday against the Raptors. He looks healthy enough, especially compared to the start of the season and late last year, but the production hasn’t been there. His scoring and rebounding is down significantly on a per possession basis, and his scoring efficiency has tanked. Despite the discussion of his three-point shooting, Ibaka’s marksmanship from beyond the arc has not been the issue – he’s shooting 40% from deep compared to 34% last year. Instead, it’s been his shooting inside the arc (44.2% from two this season, 58.8% last year) that has devolved. He’s getting much fewer shots around the rim, and the ones he has had, he hasn’t looked comfortable on. If he’s going to reclaim his spot in the rotation, he needs to be better on both ends of the court.
That about does it for this preview of the Clippers’ game against the Nets. Comment on the game below!
