The Clippers Are Rolling Out a Chaotic, Center-Less Starting Lineup on Friday
Lineup alert: Clippers will start Garland, Dunn, Jones Jr., Hachimura, Jackson on Friday. (@UnderdogNBA)
The are starting , Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr., Rui Hachimura, and Reggie Jackson on Friday. If you read that group of names and assumed it was a trade machine screenshot that got rejected for salary matching, you are completely forgiven.
This is not a real NBA frontcourt. This is a 2K MyTeam generated from expired locker codes. Rolling out three guards, two forwards, and absolutely zero true centers against the is the kind of chaotic basketball experiment that usually ends with a 20-point deficit in the first quarter.
The culprit, as always, is the medical report. Kawhi Leonard is currently sidelined with a right ankle sprain and a knee contusion, which means the Clippers' rotation has officially entered the blender.
is desperately trying to bounce back from a 103-87 rock fight loss to the that dropped them to a bleak 1-3 on the season. To fix it, they are handing the keys to Garland, who is still working his way back from offseason toe surgery, and asking a microscopic lineup to somehow secure a defensive rebound.
If you are looking at the prop market tonight, this rotation is a total wild card. Without a traditional big man on the floor, the rebounding totals for Hachimura and Jones Jr. are going to be a fascinating watch, especially against a team that actually employs centers.
The tip off against the Timberwolves on Friday night. We will find out very quickly if this ultra-small-ball configuration is a temporary stroke of mad genius or just a desperate survival tactic to get through the week.