Plenty of teams are doubling up on no rest heading into Saturday\u2019s nine-game slate, including the LA Clippers as they face their crosstown rivals, the Lakers. Meanwhile in the East, Miami travel to Atlanta in an important division matchup for both sides.<\/p>\n
The Clippers caused a huge upset last start, led by new recruit Bennedict Mathurin, taking down Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.<\/p>\n
They now head down the road to the Staples Center to face the Lakers, who are expected to welcome back Luka Doncic.<\/p>\n
The Lakers have played 54 games this season, but LeBron, Luka and Reaves have shared the floor in just ten of them. Can the trio deliver a statement performance?<\/p>\n
Luka, Reaves and LeBron are expected to suit up together for just the 11th time this season. One of them is likely to sacrifice shot volume, and I expect it to be LeBron.<\/p>\n
James is averaging 18.4 points in the ten games the trio have played together, clearing 20.5 points in just three of those.<\/p>\n
The Clippers have restricted power forwards well over the last month, holding the position 12% below league-average scoring. Expect the Lakers\u2019 backcourt to carry more of the offensive load.<\/p>\n
While the scoring may dip, the assist numbers don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
LeBron\u2019s assists increase slightly when playing alongside Luka and Reaves, averaging 7.2 per game in those matchups.<\/p>\n
Across the ten games they\u2019ve played together, LeBron has recorded 6+ assists on eight occasions and enters this matchup off four straight double-digit assist performances.<\/p>\n
John Collins has taken on greater rebounding responsibility for the Clippers following the departures of Zubac and Harden.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s averaging 7.3 rebounds across his last nine games, clearing 6+ in eight of those, including 12 against the Nuggets last start.<\/p>\n
Someone has to control the glass for the Clippers. It won\u2019t be Brook Lopez.<\/p>\n