Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said this week that he is nearing a decision on L.A.’s starting five, according to Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter link). Lue also shed some light regarding how many players on his fairly deep roster he intends to give rotation minutes.
“[We’ll play] 10 at the most to start, but probably get down to nine as quick as we can, but 10 to start at first,” Lue said. “Don’t hold me to that.”
The statuses of star swingmen Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, plus starting center Ivica Zubac, seem secure. How Lue fills out the other two spots around them remains to be seen.
There’s more out of the Pacific Division:
- Newly added Suns starting center Jusuf Nurkic will bring savvy passing and solid defense to the floor this year, opines Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports. Bourguet adds that the team’s ownership and management were aligned in thinking that the veteran big man could be a better fit than the player he will replace, former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton. Bourgeut writes in a separate piece that Nurkic should thrive when it comes to protecting the rim, but history suggests he could struggle to cover opponents further away from the basket.
- Nurkic thoroughly outplayed Ayton during the Suns’ 122-111 victory over the Trail Blazers Thursday, Bourgeut writes in an additional column. New Phoenix combo guard Jordan Goodwin enjoyed an efficient scoring night off the bench against Portland, but also made a big impression on the other side of the ball, per Bourgeut.
- The Lakers are showing signs of having improved their offense in the 2023 preseason, according to Khobi Price of The Orange County Register. Price writes that Los Angeles has scored the equivalent of 141.6 points per game across the five quarters in which it has used its anticipated regular season rotation. The team is employing a broader array of sets, and is taking advantage of its improved shooting profile heading into 2023/24, thanks to the additions of sharpshooting free agents Gabe Vincent and Taurean Prince. “Having the type of team that we have – everyone can dribble, pass and shoot – just that unselfishness, moving the ball, that all it comes down to,” head coach Darvin Ham said. “As long as that camaraderie, continuity and communication on the offensive side of the ball continues to grow and build, there’s no doubt in my mind the sky’s the limit.”
“Nurkic should thrive protecting the rim”? Lmaoo
He is a good rim protector. He doesn’t get a lot of blocks but he’s good deterrent. Unfortunately he just can’t seem to stay on the court.
The Lakers are going to be tough when healthy this season…
For the Clippers, Harden would be a great fit in those starters
Imagine Harden PG Kawhi PJ Tucker and Zubac
Harden is an elite level playmaker. He just lead the league in assists and is exactly the guy Kawhi wants to play with and run the offence. Not only that but he is still an efficient scorer, averaging over 20 on 14 shot attempts, by consistently getting to the free throw line and making threes.
If they managed to grab PJ that would give them another solid defender too, plus someone that can lead the locker room.
That allows you to run Russ off the bench in a sixth man role where he would excel. Playing hard, crashing the glass, running the cour. Norman Powell continues to come off the bench with Russ and is the go to scorer. Rounding out the second unit is Nic Batum and Mason Plumblee. Bones Hyland, Amir Coffey and Kenyon Martin Jr round out the guards challenging for minutes.
Harden and Tucker for Morris, RoCo, Mann and 2 first.
Clippers starting 5
Zue-5
Covington-4
George-3
Kawai -2
Westbrook -1
James harden not needed right now