Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers

San Antonio Spurs vs Los Angeles Clippers

AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
Date: 3/15/16, Time: 7:30 PM Spurs Time
TV: FSSW - RADIO: 1200 AM WOAI

The fault line between the contenders and pretenders is a volatile demarcation, susceptible to shakeups in rosters and the shifting NBA landscape each and every year. For a while now the Clippers have straddled that line, perennially combining one of the most potent starting units in the league with benches that were slapped together with reclamation projects and grizzled vets. And while they remain locked in as a playoff team that'll play at home in the first round (and push OKC for the third seed), there are serious questions about whether their championship window has shut.

They've made do without Blake Griffin, but (this might sound familiar to Spurs fans) have not done well against the league's elite. Griffin is still out with the quad injury he suffered in December and will then have to sit five more games due to his suspension.

Griffin's absence has predictably resulted in Chris Paul shouldering a greater load of the offense. He's had a great year, but if he's not on and defenses can lock down on J.J. Redick, LA's hopes might rest on former Grizzly Jeff Green's ability to create through his penetration game.

These two teams have met twice this season, with the Spurs winning a close one at home in December and losing a laugher in LA last month. Their win represented one of the more promising performances of the early season, with both teams at full strength. The loss came following the funeral of Monty Williams' wife, with a number of key members for both teams (including the coaches) not in the building.

Can the Clippers steal this one and snap the Spurs' win streak? Sure. But it'll take another herculean performance from Paul, along with a number of other things going right (one of those 'Jamal Crawford games' being one of them).

The more likely scenario is a close-ish first quarter that the San Antonio bench is able to turn into a double-digit lead by the end of the half; Pop counters Austin Rivers' bully ball against Patty Mills by playing the bigger Andre Miller; Aldridge goes off like he did the last time they played in SA; Kawhi does Kawhi things, and Kanye West clarifies earlier comments about wanting to redesign the new Clippers' mascot by saying 'Oh, I thought we were talking about the bald, Mike O'Malley-looking one'.

Matchup to watch: The Clippers against LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge has been rolling as of late, and the Clippers will have to decide how they defend him. Jeff Green has been playing a sort of stretch four for them,  but I'm not sure this is a matchup Doc will want to endure for too long.

Game prediction: Spurs by 15.

For the Clippers fans' perspective, visit Clips Nation.

As always Tony must dominate Fisher.