The Los Angeles Clippers will begin their 2016-17 campaign with a visit to Portland to face off against the Trail Blazers on Thursday evening at Moda Center.
The Clippers will have their work cut out for them in their season opener as they take on a youthful Trail Blazers team that is already hot off a victory. Portland’s top-notch backcourt combo of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum combined for 64 points in their home-opener victory. Meanwhile, the Clippers added some depth in the offseason by signing veterans Marreese Speights, Raymond Felton, Brandon Bass and Alan Anderson. With these solid additions the Clippers have a strengthened bench and a seasoned roster as they look to take that ever-evasive next step.
The Blazers will be looking to build on a solid victory to start their season and will be holding nothing back as the Clippers come to town. Lillard and McCollum have already shown that they are ready to play but the question now falls on the rest of the Portland roster, as to whether they are able to provide enough support to their dynamic duo to get them to where they want to be. Last game Allen Crabbe chipped in 18 points off the bench and Noah Vonleh added 11 points, while the rest of the team was relatively quiet. The Blazers will need to bring their paint presence in order to combat the brute force of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Damian Lillard led the team in rebounds last game, with nine, while Ed Davis had seven.
