INGLEWOOD, CALIF— To start the post all-star break, the Clippers went toe-to-toe with the Nuggets and Lakers. With an early test out of the way, the schedule now gets easy for the Clippers.
From the remaining schedules left for every team, the Clippers have one of the easiest. Los Angeles’ strength of schedule stands at .460, which is the second weakest in the entire league.
For the 26 games left for the Clippers, 15 of their games are against a below .500 opponent. Seven of those matchups are against the three worst teams in the league: the Pelicans, Kings and Pacers.
The soft schedule is manageable for the Clippers to deal with injuries that come up.
Helps with injuries
Currently, John Collins and Kawhi Leonard suffered injuries against the Lakers. Against a playoff caliber team like the Lakers, these players were heavily missed in the fourth quarter.
In games against playoff contenders, Leonard and Collins are vital, but against bottom feeders, not as much. Assuming that the Clippers can be as competitive as the Lakers game, they should most likely beat non-playoff teams.
Easier opponents can help an undermanned Clippers team, but it can also save Kawhi Leonard’s health.
Due to past history, Kawhi Leonard has shown to be injured when it matters most. So despite Leonard having a great season, there’s still speculation about if he’ll be in the playoffs.
What’s the best way to prevent Kawhi Leonard from missing the playoffs? By managing his load for the league season.
The less work load Leonard has on his plate, the less likely he is to get injured. Therefore, other players can carry the production against these weaker teams in the regular season.
To spare the health of Leonard, Collins and any other Clipper, an easier regular season slate is ideal. A healthy Clippers team can take advantage of the weak schedule to build up playoff momentum.
Leads to Playoff Momentum
Every team ahead of the Clippers in the West has a schedule of .487 or higher. Stronger opponents usually lead to more losses. Therefore, these teams could slip up in the standings.
On the other hand, the Clippers could rise in the standings due to the weaker opponents in front of them. This schedule greatly benefits an LA team looking to move beyond the Play-In Tournament.
While a potential rise in the standings is ideal for the Clippers, this schedule can help beyond that. This late game stretch for LA, can propel winning momentum before the playoffs.
As displayed earlier in the season, a winning streak can change the trajectory for the Clippers. After a horrible start to the season, the Clippers went on two separate 6-game winning streaks. This essentially put LA in playoff position and saved their entire season.
Los Angeles has shown to look like a juggernaut when they go on a winning streak. Now, the Clippers have a chance to catch fire again and go on another winning streak.
If the Clippers get hot towards the end of the regular season, then this is a dangerous team. A dangerous team nobody wants to see come playoff time.
