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Preview: Stephenson Sees Former Team In Shenzhen

Rowan Kavner

SHENZHEN – Last season didn’t go the way Lance Stephenson wanted.

For that reason, Stephenson feels he needs to prove himself in his first trip to China as the Clippers take on his former team Oct. 11 in the first of two games against the Charlotte Hornets. 

“I actually want to go after them,” Stephenson said. “I’ve definitely got something to prove after coming off that terrible season I had last year. I learned a lot from it, humbled myself. I’ve just got to come in aggressive and bring it this year.”

After averaging 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in his final season in Indiana, Stephenson averaged 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists last year in his lone season in Charlotte before getting traded to the Clippers this offseason.

Stephenson said the fans were supportive, but he didn’t feel he fit in with that group. He’s hoping he can do that in Los Angeles, although he knows it’ll be a process getting adjusted to a second unit still figuring one another out.

“I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself and try to just do everything,” Stephenson said. “We’ve just got to take it slow, figure out it out.”

 

Tipoff: 10:30pm PDT

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THINGS TO WATCH

  • Familiar Faces – Stephenson won’t be the only player on the other side of his former team when the Clippers take on the Hornets.

The Clippers dealt Spencer Hawes to Charlotte as part of the Stephenson trade, and they’ll be facing off against their former backup center.

“I talk to Spencer almost every day,” said Blake Griffin. “He’s one of my close friends. It is (going to be weird), but that’s basketball. He’s probably one of the closest guys I’ve been to that’s been traded. We still talk a lot.”

Hawes remains close with many of the Clippers players, including fellow Seattle native Jamal Crawford, who doesn’t believe it’ll be too weird playing against Hawes since they played together back home this offseason.

“We worked out all summer together,” Crawford said. “It’ll be like playing in the summer. We played together all the time.”

 

  • Limiting Turnovers

The Clippers will try to limit their turnovers in the third preseason game after committing 25 of them in a loss to Toronto one game ago.

Many of those turnovers came from the backup units, but all of the Clippers know that’s something that’ll need to get better. Seven Clippers have at least three turnovers and 10 Clippers have at least two turnovers through two preseason games.

“That just comes with learning each other,” Stephenson said. “We’ve got a lot of new players. We’ve just got to figure it out, know where each other’s at.”

 

  • First Timers

When the Clippers and Hornets tip-off at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in China (10:30 p.m. PT Saturday), it’ll mark the first ever NBA game in Shenzhen.

“Our team’s excited to be back in China,” said Chris Paul. “We’re excited about being here in Shenzhen and we’re excited about the game.”