Brooklyn at L.A. Clippers
Time: 10:30 PM ET
TV: TNT
Spread: LAC -13
Total: 201
Betting odds c/o Bovada
The Brooklyn Nets are clinging to the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference as the All-Star break approaches, with a half game lead on No. 9 Charlotte. The Nets have lost six of its past 10 games and are 10-10 on the road. Visiting L.A. to face the Clippers might not be as easy given that the Clips are 18-7 at home. Oddly, however, the Clips are not overly dominant against the East, with a 12-8 mark against the East this season.
The Nets are coming off a 103-100 victory over the Sacramento Kings last night (Jan 21). Brook Lopez came in for Mason Plumlee to have one of his best games of the season, cued by Plumlee picking up early fouls and being unable to avoid the whistle. Lopez hit 8 of 15 from the floor en route to a team-high 22 points.
Like Plumlee, he had a lot of trouble containing DeMarcus Cousins (28 points, 14 rebounds), but the Nets got big games from Jarrett Jack and Joe Johnson and had just enough to hang on despite Sacramento outscoring Brooklyn 31-21 in the final period.
The unorthodox benching of Lopez may stop, but perhaps it shouldn’t. Lopez does not rebound the ball well, and his best attribute is his ability to score the basketball. Teams have been scared off chasing Lopez in trades because of his history of nagging injuries, his softness and his lack of competitive drive.
All that said, it makes perfect sense to start Plumlee, even given that he will have nights like the last, in which he faces foul trouble and never establishes his groove on the court. It’s a luxury that a mid-first round pick takes the role of an underachieving lottery talent like Lopez, but it seems as though toughness just can’t be taught. As to why Robin Lopez has oodles of it and his twin Brook does not is a mystery for geneticists to solve, not sportswriters and handicappers.
The L.A. Clippers have been clicking well offensively and tonight should be a chance to obliterate a mediocre Nets team. Mikhail Prokhorov is trying to sell the Nets after basically ruining the franchise with his drive to win a title in breakneck fashion (It didn’t and isn’t going to work, we can see). Los Angeles averages the fourth most points per game in the league (106.7) and the team plays well together, moving the rock around to come up with 24.7 assists per game, nearly 10 of which are the work of Chris Paul.
Paul is still arguably the best floor general in the Association, and he does so many things that other 1-men have difficulty with, not the least of which is never losing his dribble. Paul consistently weaves around through traffic yet despite this he only averages 2.1 turnovers per game and has a 4.6 A/TO ratio, the best in the NBA.
Over the former Wake Forest Demon Deacon’s career, he has posted the highest PER of any point guard in NBA history, but detractors will decry that he has not led his team anywhere in the postseason nor won a ring. That sometimes comes later in a players’ career, and his experience and poise will be crucial if this Clippers team is going to make a run at a title.
Blake Griffin has shown vast improvements in diversifying his offensive game and improving his defensive presence and the youngster is averaging 23 points, 7.6 rebounds and five assists per game. The five dimes are a new addition, but Griffin has always had guard-like skills with the basketball. His post game still need a lot of work, but he’s adept at moving the ball in transition or filling passing lanes to be the recipient of lob passes and easy assists for teammates.
DeAndre Jordan has been one of the league’s most ferocious on the glass over the past few seasons and this year is averaging 10 points and 13.4 boards per game while also wreaking havoc defensively, with 3.36 steals/blocks per game. Jordan is brilliant around the basket, seldom missing save for the occasional hack.
Teams try to put him on the line where he hits just 40 percent, but if that plan goes wrong, and it often does, Jordan makes the opposition pay with his 72.1 percent field goal shooting. J.J. Redick is showing his marksmanship with the Clips now that he has more floor space to operate. His 43.5 percent three-point shooting is a career high.
With so many Clips having career years, it seems like this could be the season in which things finally happen in the postseason for Los Angeles (Well, the red and white team, anyway).
