Rowan Kavner
LOS ANGELES – The Clippers can get comfortable at home.
They return home to the STAPLES Center tonight to take on the Suns after playing last night at Golden State. The Clippers final two preseason games are both at home, and they’re the home team in seven of their first nine regular season games. One of the two games they’re a road team in that stretch is at the STAPLES Center against the Lakers.
Here are three things to watch for tonight as the Clippers face the Suns in the first preseason matchup between the two teams this year.
Who’s Healthy?
The Clippers have been down Glen Davis (groin) and Jordan Farmar (back), but Chris Douglas-Roberts returned last night from an ankle injury and
Blake Griffin and Chris Paul both got a night of rest.
Matt Barnes said head coach Doc Rivers is smart about preserving his players’ bodies, legs and minds.
"I think Doc is great at that, really understanding that we're in it for the long haul,” Barnes said.
This is the third and final back-to-back of the preseason for the Clippers, but they’re not the only ones playing their second game in as many days tonight. The Suns played last night as well in a 114-108 overtime win against the Lakers.
The Suns have had a successful start to the preseason, boasting a 4-1 record, while the Clippers are still searching for their second win. The Clippers still don’t sound particularly concerned with that, but J.J. Redick also doesn’t want to completely dismiss what’s happened in games.
“We have work to do,” Redick said. “I look at it that way. We have work to do, but I’m not freaking out that we’re 1-5.”
Barnes Bounce Back?
It’s been a struggle from the field this preseason for Matt Barnes, but both Barnes and head coach Doc Rivers believe he can get out of his preseason 3-for-31 slump before the start of the regular season.
Barnes said before last night’s Warriors game that he believes it’ll come around, and as frustrating as it can be, the veteran knows he has to stay the course and shoot his way out of it instead of worrying about it. Rivers said after the Warriors game, in which Barnes had four assists and three steals but went 1-of-7 from the floor, he thought Barnes was pressing.
“It’ll come for him,” Rivers said. “Once you start thinking about it, it’s hard. He’ll get through it. We’ve got a week to get him right.”
Jordan In Form
DeAndre Jordan has twice as many rebounds as any Clippers player other than Spencer Hawes. The NBA’s reigning leader in rebounds appears to be in form with only two games remaining in the preseason.
“I think he’s picked up where he left off, there’s no doubt about it,” Rivers said. “I don’t know if our team has, but I know he has for sure. I think just in practices he’s talking the same language; that’s his main focus, and you can feel that.”
Jordan finished a rebound short of a double-double last night against the Warriors, while adding five assists. He’s also 74 percent from the field this preseason.
“He plays with great intensity, and he’s got the right focus,” Rivers said. “He’s in the right place. He knows what he is and what he can be. He’s going after it.”
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