Game Preview #25: Los Angeles Clippers @ San Antonio Spurs

Point Guard

Baron Davis has been healthy for the entire season so far and yet not much has changed for the Clippers. A full team with few injuries or setbacks has produced a better record, but the Clippers remain a team going nowhere fast. Baron's averages have gone slightly up (not from beyond the arc, where he's abysmal), but he proved in Golden State he needs to shoot a lot more to be effective.

I'm still waiting on Tony to rekindle the brilliance and reliability that he showed last year. But even if he's operating below expectations, he's still a handful for any opposing team.

Advantage: Spurs

Shooting Guard

It's the battle of The Thick People - stocky guards that can bully smaller guards, Bogans on the defensive end and Eric Gordon on the offensive end. Keith has been playing both ends of the floor quite well over the last few games, so let's hope he can limit E.G.'s offensive outburst.

Advantage: Clippers

Small Forward

Despite weak numbers in the last game agains the Pacers, RJ still ended up with the second-highest plus-minus in the team. He had a good game during the first meeting (17-4-3) and I expect him to match that production or be slightly since, you know, he kinda pads the stats against sub-.500 teams. Al Thornton is no spring chicken when it comes to athleticism and skill, but he's playing for the Clippers so I'm giving the whities to RJ.

Advantage: Spurs

Power Forward

He damn should be in the MVP discussion if our record becomes much, much better. For now, we should just look beyond that award and enjoy TD's brilliance.

Advantage: Spurs

Center

Antonio hasn't done much offensively with his silky smooth J, but you gotta give it to his hustle and tenacity on the boards. I don't know why, but I'm not complaining just yet. Pop has been able to manage Dice's minutes well, too, as he's been only averaging 21 mpg. Kaman, on the other hand, gets the nod here because I think he's just younger and more talented offensively now than McDyess.

Advantage: Clippers

Bench & Role Players

Our bench is still all sorts of deep even with the Red Rocket out (get well soon, Matty!). Let's hope Pop gives the MHs (Malik Hairston and Marcus Haislip) some burn and experience. We might need them sometime down the road. Also, Haislip has officially been activated.

Advantage: Spurs

Coach

I could say a lot of bad things about Dunleavy, but I'll let you read what our fellow SB Nation blog Clips Nation has to say instead:

Dunleavy is overly arrogant and stubborn. His in-game decisions seem to be based more on stats and paper matchups, when he should be more sensitive to the flow of the game and the shifts in momentum. His failure to do so has cost the Clippers many close games, and it will inevitably contribute to future losses against teams they should beat.

Daaamn. Now are you happy we have Pop?

Advantage: Spurs

Intangibles

I don't think we'll take this thing lightly after we nearly got ambushed by the Pacers.

Advantage: Spurs

Mojo

On a positive note, the comeback win over the Pacers will help us in clutch situations against tougher opponents. That being said, we had no business being in a close game with an Indiana team missing its biggest star.

Advantage: Spurs

Winner

The theme for the next few games is to pad the win column, but this Clips team remain dangerous and could have gotten some confidence after seeing us falter a bit in the last game. The Spurs should exercise caution and at the same time, show no mercy.

Prediction: Spurs win (after our last game, I don't even want to speculate if it will be close or not)