LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Clippers’ last five games have been a roller coaster.
In their final game of February, the Clippers blew a 21-point lead in the fourth and final Battle of Los Angeles. Four days later, they traveled to Minnesota and beat the top-seeded Timberwolves in a game where both teams had an off night. , with neither shooting more than 40% from the field. Then the Clippers traveled to face the Houston Rockets and came back from down 20 to earn a solid road win, the second time they had done so this season.
Given their recent hot streak, the Clippers appear to be searching for their identity. Earlier this season, Kawhi Leonard shared that he was concerned that the team was relying too much on his talent: When the Clippers’ talent doesn’t work, results don’t tend to fall in the Clippers’ favor. However, the Clippers still have plenty of time to show who they are against quality opponents.
These are the two games Clippers fans should mark on their calendar.
Crescent City Competition — March 15
There is one team that has flown under everyone’s radar this season: the New Orleans Pelicans. The Clippers are 1-2 against the Pelicans so far this year, winning on the road and losing both games at home. Now that the Pelicans are fully healthy again, this mid-March battle will be another marquee game for LA Zion Williamson, who averaged 21.7 points per game against the Clippers this year, and Brandon Ingram will be the players that Los Angeles needs to keep an eye on. and take it into account in their defensive plan.
The Clippers’ win over New Orleans in early January featured contributions from all areas of the court, but Los Angeles was led by George’s 24 points as it trailed 6-10 from beyond the bow. The Clippers led by as many as 31 points in this game and held the Pelicans to under 100 points on the night.
In defeats against the Pelicans, it’s the same trend: one or more Clippers star players experienced difficulties. James Harden, whose offensive contribution has been inconsistent of late despite averaging more than 17 points per game this year, had eight points when the Clippers fell to the Pelicans in the season tournament in November. Then, in the February game, Paul George couldn’t seem to find the basket from behind the perimeter, missing every 3-point attempt he made, as the Clippers lost by a single-digit score.
The most intriguing part of this matchup is that the Pelicans currently sit in fifth place in the Western Conference, just behind the Clippers. That means the two teams would face each other in the first round if the playoffs started today. There are also significant playoff implications, particularly regarding who will have home-field advantage come April.
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Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are scheduled to face the Clippers in early April, the first of a three-game home stretch with games against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz as well. Similar to the Pelicans, the Nuggets lead 2-1 in their seasonal series with the Clippers, with the Clippers losing the first two matchups and winning the most recent matchup in December.
The Nuggets, third in the Western Conference, are the team to beat after winning the NBA championship last year. The Clippers will be tested defensively, especially on the interior against Jokic, but also on the perimeter against Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. The Clippers and Nuggets are also in the top half of the league defensively, which will be a serious challenge. , battle with a lower score.
