Golden State Warriors (0-0) at Los Angeles Clippers (0-0)
Tip-off: Tuesday, October 7, 2014 – 7:30PM PDT
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
TV: NBATV
Livetweet: @LetsGoWarriors #LetsGoWarriorsLive
Last Game:
Clippers defeated Warriors 126-121 in Game 7 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals
Probable Starting Lineups:
Warriors:
PG: Stephen Curry (24.0 PPG, 8.5 APG, 4.3 RPG)
SG: Klay Thompson (18.4 PPG, 2.2 APG, 3.1 RPG)
SF: Andre Iguodala (9.3 PPG, 4.2 APG, 4.7 RPG)
PF: David Lee (18.3 PPG, 2.1 APG, 9.3 RPG)
C: Andrew Bogut (7.3 PPG, 1.7 APG, 10 RPG)
Head Coach: Steve Kerr
Clippers:
PG: Chris Paul (19.1 PPG, 10.7 APG, 4.3 RPG)
SG: J.J. Redick (15.2 PPG, 2.2 APG, 2.1 RPG)
SF: Matt Barnes (9.9 PPG, 2.0 APG, 4.6 RPG)
PF: Blake Griffin (24.1 PPG, 3.9 APG, 9.5 RPG)
C: DeAndre Jordan (10.4 PPG, 0.9 APG, 13.6 RPG)
Head Coach: Doc Rivers
The Golden State Warriors return to Staples Center, the site of their 2014 NBA Playoff exit against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Warriors point guard Stephen Curry said he will definitely have some “sour thoughts” about coming back to where the team suffered their last loss.
Tuesday’s pre-season opener will more than likely have a different tone than the grueling 7-game series that was the culmination of two seasons of heated regular season match-ups.
The teams will be far more focused on getting themselves ready for the regular season than worrying about who the opponent is.
“We’re not even scouting the Clippers tomorrow. This is all about what we’re doing,” said first-year head Coach Steve Kerr.
What that might mean for the Warriors is an emphasis on executing their new offensive and defensive schemes for the first time.
Center Andrew Bogut said in regards to the Warriors offense, “There’s a huge emphasis on not taking a shot after one pass.”
While the expected starting lineups will likely mirror last season’s for both teams, there have been some significant changes to both benches.
The Clippers will feature three new faces in significant roles off the bench, including new backup center Spencer Hawes, point guard Jordan Farmar, and swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts.
The Warriors biggest off-season addition, Shaun Livingston will likely miss all of the preseason after surgery on his right big toe this summer, but Leandro Barbosa is expected to make his Warrior debut alongside Brandon Rush, who returns to the Warriors after a season with the Utah Jazz.
They’ll join Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes, and Marreese Speights off the bench, which will be very thin in the front court until Festus Ezeli returns from shin inflammation.
Sophomores Nemanja Nedovic and Ognjen Kuzmic also figure to see their fair share of run time, given the injuries to Ezeli and Livingston.
Rounding out the Clippers’ second unit are sixth-man Jamal Crawford and Glen “Big Baby” Davis, who spent limited time with the Clippers last season.
The rest of the Warriors training camp roster is filled out by summer league stand-outs Aaron Craft, Mitchell Watt, Justin Holiday, James Michael McAdoo and veteran wingman Jason Kapono.
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