Jan. 26 vs. LA Clippers
Kawhi Leonard had one of the best playoffs in NBA history in helping the Toronto Raptors to the NBA Finals. That started against the Orlando Magic.
Leonard tore up Orlando’s usually stellar defense to the tune of 27.8 points per game on 63.3 percent effective field goal percentage. Those numbers actually seem pretty good considering Leonard averaged 30.5 points per game and shot a 54.5 percent effective field goal percentage in the postseason.
In fact, Leonard’s scoring average against the Magic was his lowest in any specific playoff series.
No one should cry him a river, he was still really good.
The Magic are one of the few teams that seemingly provide an intriguing defensive matchup for Kawhi Leonard and his new teammate Paul George. Aaron Gordon got the main defensive call on Kawhi Leonard. He did fine, but the numbers speak for themselves.
Gordon would relish another matchup with Leonard. But Orlando also has Jonathan Isaac to match up with Paul George. Those are two long, capable defenders to try to neutralize the Clippers’ huge offensive advantage.
That would make this a very interesting matchup. Especially if the Magic are near the top of the standings in the Eastern Conference when they take the Amway Center floor in January.
Granted, the Clippers won both games handily last season — both occurring early in the season.
The game in the early slot on Jan. 26 is an intriguing matchup between the Boston Celtics and New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans.
That game gets on national TV because of the attraction and media gravity that Zion Williamson seems to command. The Pelicans will have 20 national television appearances — with 10 more on NBATV.
New Orleans has done a good job quickly rebuilding with Williamson as the centerpiece. it is still hard to get a handle on just how good this team will be. J.J. Redick is a gravity-warping player and Derrick Favors will provide some good post defense next to Zion Williamson. But this is still an incredibly young team.
It will be an ongoing storyline to watch how Williamson develops. But nobody seems to have the Pelicans in line to make the playoffs. There is not much intrigue to this game in New Orleans. If the Pelicans are out of the race, this would be a good game to flex out.
Especially to a game that features what is likely to be one of the best defenses in the league taking on the star-studded Clippers.