The Clippers take on the tanking Toronto Raptors in a game that probably looked better on paper when the NBA was drawing out schedules than it will be in reality. Keep reading for a full preview of the Clippers’ game against the Raptors.
Game Information
Where: Tampa Bay, Florida
When: 4:30 PM PT
How to Watch: Fox Sports Prime Ticket
Projected Starting Lineups
Clippers: Reggie Jackson – Paul George – Kawhi Leonard – Marcus Morris – Ivica Zubac
Raptors: Malachi Flynn – Gary Trent Jr. – DeAndre Bembry – Stanley Johnson – Khem Birch
Injuries
Clippers: Serge Ibaka Out (Back), Amir Coffey Out (Health Protocols)
Raptors: Kyle Lowry Out (Back), OG Anunoby Out (Calf), Pascal Siakam Out (Shoulder), Fred VanVleet Out (Rest), Rodney Hood Out (Finger), Chris Boucher Questionable (Knee)
The Big Picture
The Clippers’ relentless seesaw of a season has continued. Outside of that prolonged stretch in April, it’s been very difficult for them to sustain any positive momentum. And while seeding and health are more important right now, it’s never good to be stumbling into the postseason. The Clippers need to try to collect their mojo with four games left in the season so that they can head into the playoffs both healthy and on a bit of a winning streak. Rotations are getting solidified as the postseason approaches, with Ty Lue making any last changes, adjustments, and tweaks needed to rotations and tactics. It’s both a time of consolidation and perfection before the stress of the playoffs.
The Antagonist
The Toronto Raptors have had the season from hell. They’ve spent the entire season in Tampa, away from their family, friends, fans, and homes in Toronto. They have dealt with COVID-19 outbreaks, had injuries to key players, and whiffed massively on a couple free agent signing (Aron Baynes, yikes). While technically not eliminated from the playoffs as I’m writing this, they would need to win out and the Pacers would need to lose out for them to make it. That’s both not happening, and is an outcome that the Raptors wouldn’t even want at this point. Instead, they’re resting their key players to preserve health for next season, and tanking for lottery balls. They are trying to lose games, and the Clippers should be happy to oblige them.
Notes
The Complexities of Seeding: On the other hand, counter to everything I said above, there is an argument that could be made that the Clippers should be losing games. They are currently in the 3 seed, which would have them matched up against the Blazers in the first round, and then the Suns or Lakers in the second. If they were to fall to the 4th seed, they’d likely square off against the Mavs in the first round, and then the Jazz or whoever finishes 8th (it will be the Jazz) in the second. I think the Blazers are a tougher matchup than the Mavs (Dame and Luka are roughly equal in scariness, but CJ McCollum is way scarier than anyone on the Mavs), and the Suns are a tougher matchup than the Jazz. Really though, the main reason to go to 4 is to avoid the Lakers, who are likely going to be the 7 or 8 seed. However, complicating matters is the play-in: if the Lakers are in 7 but lose in the first “round” of the play-in, they will fall to 8… moving them into that 4 seed bracket. I can’t imagine LeBron letting his team lose that play-in, but still, figuring out the ideal spot for the Clippers is still almost impossible at this point.
Getting Kawhi and Pat Right: In Kawhi’s last four games since missing nine of 10 contests, he’s had two very solid performance, a quiet but effective outing, and a pretty awful game against the Knicks. He doesn’t look unhealthy, but he also doesn’t look locked in yet. Now, Kawhi could definitely just be trying to get some last reps and conditioning before the playoffs starting without going 100%, but it would be nice to see one vintage performance before the postseason. Similarly, Pat Beverley hasn’t been bad in his first three games back – but he also hasn’t cracked even the 18 minute mark, and clearly has work to do to get back to 100%. If Kawhi Leonard isn’t right, the Clippers obviously aren’t winning a championship. But if Pat Beverley isn’t fully up to speed, the Clippers’ hopes will diminish a fair amount. They need both of these guys healthy and ready for the playoffs, and time is running out.
That about does it for this preview of the Clippers’ game against the Raptors. Keep hanging out on this page to comment on the game!
