Warriors Look to Spoil Clippers’ Christmas Joy
Does it get any better than the Warriors and Clippers on Christmas night?
Santa Claus (a.k.a. Adam Silver) and his schedule-making elves know what they’re doing. You can never go wrong putting two championship-contending division rivals together on a holiday.
Coming off a confounding loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, the Warriors look to redeem themselves against the Clippers.
The Dubs dominated the Clips 121-104 at Oracle on November 5th in their first meeting since the epic seven-game series in the playoffs last year. Stephen Curry lead the way with 28 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. The most glaring stat from that game was that Draymond Green and the Warriors held Blake Griffin to just one rebound. The Warriors moved the ball well and knocked down over twice as many three-pointers as the Clippers did.
In that game, Andrew Bogut added 14 rebounds and five assists. The Warriors will be without their Australian center this time around just like the playoffs. Fortunately, the Warriors play small ball about as well as any team. On both sides of the ball, the Dubs will look to put DeAndre Jordan in uncomfortable positions by spacing the floor with Marreese Speights at times.
I wouldn’t imagine that this game will be as one-sided as the first game. Although the Clippers have lost five of their last 10 games, they are still a tough team in the Western Conference led by Griffin and Chris Paul. In order to win, the Warriors will need to rebound the ball much better than they did against the Lakers. Giving Jordan and Griffin extra chances is never a recipe for success. The Warriors may also find advantages on the wings because Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, and Andre Iguodala can exploit any defenders that Doc Rivers puts on them.
One thing is for sure: it will be an exciting game. Curry loves nationally televised games and will have a few special plays in him as always. Of course, keep an eye on the Green-Griffin matchup because if history has shown us anything, it’s that these are two competitors that really get into it whenever they step on the court together. Last Christmas, they gave us a thriller filled with hard play and intensity. These are two teams that don’t like each other that have had plenty of altercations and technical fouls.
Expect a physical battle that should hopefully be better than anything that we open from under the tree.
Tale of the Tape
Warriors:
- Points per game: 108.1 (3rd)
- Field-goal percentage: 48.1% (1st)
- Three-point percentage: 37.5% (T-5th)
- Defensive field-goal percentage: 42.2% (1st)
- Rebounds per game: 45.3 (T-4th)
- Turnovers: 15.6 (T-26th)
Clippers:
- Points per game: 106.8 (4th)
- Field-goal percentage: 47.6% (3rd)
- Three-point percentage: 38.4% (3rd)
- Defensive field-goal percentage: 46.3% (23rd)
- Rebounds per game: 40.2 (T-27th)
- Turnovers: 11.9 (T-4th)
Injury Report
GSW: Festus Ezeli (mild left ankle sprain) is questionable. Andrew Bogut (right knee chondromalacia/bone edema) is out.
LAC: Spencer Hawes (left knee bruise) has missed the last seven games.
Probable Starters
GOLDEN STATE (23-4)
- F Harrison Barnes (10.9 PPG)
- F Draymond Green (12.4 PPG)
- C Festus Ezeli (4.3 PPG)
- G Klay Thompson (21.6 PPG)
- G Stephen Curry (23.4 PPG)
LOS ANGELES (19-10)
- F Matt Barnes (8.8 PPG)
- F Blake Griffin (23.1 PPG)
- C DeAndre Jordan (9.3 PPG)
- G J.J. Reddick (14.9 PPG)
- G Chris Paul (18.1 PPG)
Game Info
Tip-off: 7:30 PM PST
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
TV: LOCAL