Thursday's NBA Restart Features The Battle Of Hollywood

The Clippers may be short-handed against the Lakers

Untitled Image
Getty Images
  • The Los Angeles Clippers, almost-universally lauded for their depth before this season began, will be shorthanded in their restart opener against the hometown-rival Los Angeles Lakers this Thursday. Because of quarantine rules, family emergencies, and post-COVID fatigue, they could be short a couple of important guards and big men.

  • While sharpshooting guard Landry Shamet has recovered from COVID-19, the Clippers will be without reigning Sixth Man of the Year, Lou Williams. Williams must quarantine for 10 days after leaving the bubble for a funeral (and hot wings at a strip club).

  • Also in question ahead of this seeding game is the always-pesky Patrick Beverley. The starting point guard and key defender recently returned from a family-related leave, but hasn't practiced in weeks. Big man Ivica Zubac, who tested positive for COVID-19 in late-June and just recently arrived into the Orlando bubble, looked winded at the Clippers most recent scrimmage. Bench powerhouse Montrezl Harrell remains outside the bubble for an excused family emergency, too.

  • The Lakers are 4.5-point favorites with the over/under set at 216 points. Take a look at our game predictions page to see which bet our NBA model prefers!
Untitled Image

Thursday's Restart

Ever since superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George united with the Los Angeles Clippers to try and bring the franchise its first championship, their roster has been considered very deep. However, a myriad of issues throughout the season have limited the Clippers ability to run with a fully active squad. These challenges are felt now more than ever at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 As the Clippers prepare to embark on the NBA restart this Thursday, facing off with the hometown rival (and conference-leading) Los Angeles Lakers in the first seeding game since the end of the hiatus, they will once again be shorthanded. Read on to see where the title-hopeful Clippers stand as of now.

A Thin Backcourt

While sharpshooter Landry Shamet has recovered from COVID-19 and has looked good in scrimmages, fellow guards Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley are different stories. Williams, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, recently left the NBA bubble (with approval from the Clippers) to attend a family friend’s funeral services in Atlanta. However, it was revealed that he broke NBA COVID-19 protocol when pictures surfaced of him with famous rapper Jack Harlow at a strip club in Atlanta.

While he was wearing a mask and claimed that he was only at the club for the hot wings (age-old excuse), he still must quarantine for at least 10 days now that he’s back in the bubble. This means his lethal scoring prowess will be absent for at least the Clippers first two contests.

Meanwhile, starting point guard and wickedly-pesky defender, Patrick Beverley, has returned from an excused family-related leave from the bubble, but he hasn’t practiced or scrimmaged in two weeks. When asked by reporters if Beverley would suit up against the Lakers on Thursday, coach Doc Rivers said maybe.

These two guards have come up huge in key moments of big games: Williams for his ruthless scoring stretches and Beverley for his clutch defensive stands. Against a Lakers team with LeBron James at the helm, it will be difficult to lose such important pieces of the backcourt.

Like free money? We thought so. We read all the fine print, rated and reviewed all of these awesome offers for you. Get in on the action today by selecting your state below and take advantage of our exclusive deals if you want to bet on the Clippers and Lakers game!

Untitled Image

Shortage Of Big Men

As if Williams and Beverley weren’t enough, the Clippers could also be without multiple big men. Starting center Ivica Zubac, who tested positive for COVID-19 in late-June, has recovered from the coronavirus. However, he still seems winded in limited action during scrimmages. Montrezl Harrell, the always-improving power forward who will almost assuredly join Williams as a Sixth Man of the Year candidate this season, remains out of the bubble for a family emergency. He may not start games like Zubac, but he almost always finishes them. 

Harrell’s tenacity on both sides of the floor has been a huge factor for the Clippers. He has great instincts on the defensive end and he finishes strong near the hoop. He plays exceptionally well in the pick-and-roll game with Williams. The duo collaborate to make up arguably the best bench tandem in the league. Harrell’s 18.6 points per game ranks fourth in the NBA in backup points, one spot behind Williams’ 18.7 per game. The big man adds 7.1 rebounds per game and has tallied a 23.1 PER, while Williams adds 5.7 assists and has a 17.2 PER.

Another notable big man who has been absent from the bubble is Marcus Morris. The power forward was a midseason acquisition who has also had an excused absence. Morris provides quality defense and a three-point stroke, as well as a nose for scoring near the basket. 

If Zubac, Harrell, and Morris are all absent on Thursday, then the Clippers could be throwing JaMychal Green and recent addition, Joakim Noah, at a strong Lakers frontcourt. If the two thirty-plus year olds are the best big men that Doc Rivers has to slow down Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, and Javale McGee, then the Clippers are in for a rough night.

Game Line Data

According to BetQL’s most recent game information, the Lakers are a 4.5-point favorite for Thursday’s starter between Hollywood’s two basketball franchises. Don’t be surprised if that line increases between now and tip-off to reflect LeBron and the Lakers relative depth with the Clippers being short-handed. The Lakers enter the reopening atop the Western Conference, and they will most likely finish the season that way.

Find out how you can use BetQL to dominate the NBA with the season returning!

Untitled Image