Here is what you need to know before the Lakers’ “road” game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
1)
With Ronnie Price (broken nose, flu) listed as doubtful against the Clippers, Jeremy Lin will likely make his first start since Dec. 5. Lin averaged 11.9 points and 4.9 assists in 20 games as a starter, while managing 9.0 points and 4.1 assists in 15 off the bench. However, Lin has amped his game up in his last three contests, averaging 14.7 points on 53.3 percent shooting with 3.0 assists and 1.7 steals.
2)
Both teams employ one of the league’s top free throw shooters, as Jamal Crawford (90.9 percent) ranks fourth, and Nick Young (90.8 percent) is sixth. Crawford has been excellent at the line in his last eight games, going 33-for-35 (94.3 percent). However, Young has been even better recently, knocking down all of his last 18 foul shots and shooting 45-for-46 (97.8 percent) in his last 14 games.
3)
The Lakers have struggled lately against their STAPLES Center co-tenants, dropping eight of their last nine matchups against the Clippers, including each of their past four. Most recently, the Lakers fell on Halloween night, 118-111, as Blake Griffin led the Clippers to a fourth-quarter comeback with 39 points.
4)
The Lakers (23.6) and Clippers (23.0) rank first and second in the league in pull-up points per game, led by Chris Paul (8.9) and Kobe Bryant (8.5), who are also the NBA’s top two in pull-up scoring. The difference has been efficiency, as the Clippers lead the league in pull-up shooting percentage (40.9), while the Lakers clock in at 11th (37.5).
5)
Per usual, Paul has been one of the best passers in the NBA, ranking fourth in assists (9.5), while leading the league in secondary assists (3.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (4.55). Combined with his 17.6 points per game, Paul’s distributing has him tied with Anthony Davis for the NBA’s most offensive win shares (4.9).
6)
When it comes to third-quarter scoring, only James Harden (7.8) has been better than Bryant and Griffin, who both average 7.5 points. Griffin had the hot hand last time the two teams met up, pouring in 13 third-quarter points, while Bryant tallied just three.
7)
DeAndre Jordan has been a catalyst for the Clippers’ success on both ends of the floor. The Texas A&M product ranks fourth in the league in offensive rating (129.4) and 10th in defensive rating (99.1), making him the only player in the top 10 for both. The Clippers also score 15.4 more points per 100 possessions with Jordan on the floor, while holding the opponent to 1.9 fewer.
8)
No player gets hotter faster than J.J. Redick, whose league-leading 2.9 scoring average in the game’s first three minutes ranks just ahead of Kevin Durant (2.7). Redick has gone off for 10 first-quarter points 10 times, which has resulted in eight victories for the Clippers.
9)
The Clippers have found offensive success away from the basket this season, as they rank second-to-last in drives to the hoop (16.9) and close touches (14.5), while scoring the third-fewest points in the paint (35.2). However, the Clippers have been deadly from long distance, where they are making the second-most 3-pointers (10.2) on the second-best 3-point percentage (38.5). However, the Clippers have been solid from wherever the choose to shoot, as they place at or above league-average in just about every area of the court (see below).
Clippers Shot Chart
10)
On the flip side, the Clippers are one of the league’s best teams at locking down the paint. With the 6-foot-11 Jordan — who is second in blocks per game (2.3) — serving as a deterrent, opponents have averaged the fewest shots (19.2) and second-fewest baskets (10.3) at the rim. Meanwhile, the Clippers are also holding their foes to the NBA’s third-fewest points in the paint (39.0).