The Los Angeles Clippers are arguably the deepest team entering the Orlando bubble. Despite early concerns from players about not attending the continuation of the NBA, it has been reported that all healthy players have flown out to Florida. The only player that has not attended the team’s first landing was star Kawhi Leonard, who will eventually join the squad in time before the remainder of the season starts.
July 30 vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Win
With a healthy Paul George and a determined Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers will be seemingly unstoppable. Even if the team struggles in their first game back, the roster on the Clippers is 10 players deep. In any game, one of those 10 players can help the team offensively from Leonard to Terance Mann.
Aug. 1 vs. New Orleans Pelicans: Win
Besides having trouble stopping Zion Williamson, the Clippers will outmatch the Pelicans. Leonard and George alone can win the game for the Clippers. Expect an exciting game as Williamson vs. Leonard will be the future of the league.
Aug. 4 vs. Phoenix Suns: Win
The Suns have a small probability of making the playoffs. The Clippers might even rest Leonard and George in this game and still win. What the Clippers lack in this game is a post defender that would be able to stop DeAndre Ayton from his mid-range game and versatility in the paint. But even if Ayton has a great game, the Clippers will run away with it early on.
Aug. 6 vs. Dallas Mavericks: Win
This will be one of the better games for the Clippers as it pits young Luka Doncic versus the two veteran stars of the league. Leonard will have to reprove himself as one of the better defenders as he will try to stop the new face of the franchise of the Mavs.
Aug. 8 vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Loss
There comes a time in a team’s season when a bad loss occurs. Whether they are overconfident or just physically tired, this will be one of those games. With this loss, the Clippers will not be harmed in the standings for the playoffs.
Aug. 9 vs. Brooklyn Nets: Win
The Brooklyn Nets are struggling to put a team out in Orlando as five players are now not attending the Orlando bubble. With that, the Clippers could use this game to rest most of their starters before the real test of the 2019-2020 playoffs.
Aug. 12 vs. Denver Nuggets: Loss
With the playoffs already secured, the Clippers might take some time in resting players. The playoffs are brutal without a team’s star, and with injury concerns floating around Leonard and George’s head, the team might consider resting these two for half of these games.
Aug. 14 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Loss
This will be another game in which the Clippers rest their players. Expect Doc Rivers to start players such as Joakim Noah, who recently signed to the team for this regular season and playoff run.
With the Clippers going 5-3 in the final eight games of the regular season, they will lock up the No. 2 seed. It would be hard to see them relinquish this spot when the whole team is healthy and in attendance.
Once the Clippers are through a few games and seem back to shape, it should come to nobody’s surprise if they start resting players earlier than most teams.
