The Clippers have a new logo and uniforms, but they have the old core of players that brought the team 56 wins and within a game of reaching the Western Conference Final last season. Along with the unis went the memories of that painful seven-game playoff loss to the Rockets after the Clips built a 3-1 series lead. With a deeper bench and an offseason of reflection, it’s time for Los Angeles to get back to work to put that disappointment behind them.
SCHEDULING
Both teams opened the season on Wednesday night and will playing the second of a back-to-back with travel. The Mavericks were in Phoenix while the Clips opened up north in Sacramento.
Back-to-back games are not going to be kind to the Mavericks in the early part of the year with forward chandler Parsons and free agent signee Wesley Matthews working their way back from surgery that prematurely ended their last season. Matthews’ backcourt mate Deron Williams was also banged up in the preseason, missing all but one exhibition game. Toss in an aging Dirk Nowitzki, and the two games in two nights could work against the Mavs.
The Clippers added several players to strengthen their bench and their next five could compete with any in the league. The plan is to reduce minutes for starters Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan so they have a little more giddy-up as the season wears on, much like the Golden State Warriors last season.
INJURIES
The Mavericks will be a better team when Parsons and Matthews are fully recovered from injuries that sidelined them near the end of last season. Matthews played in the team’s preseason finale and is on course to reach his goal of playing once the season opens despite rupturing his left Achilles tendon on Mar. 5. The Mavs signed him to a four-year deal while in the recovery process.
Parsons was a full participant in practice last week for the first time since undergoing microfracture surgery on his knee May 1. If both players are ready to go once the bell rings, don’t expect them to play in the second of back-to-back games due to the injuries and the recovery timeline.
KEY MATCHUP
One area of emphasis for the Clippers during the offseason was additional depth, and the new players should give Los Angeles a strong bench in the stacked Western Conference. While newcomers like veteran Paul Pierce, Josh Smith and Lance Stephenson join former Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford, the X-factor could be Austin Rivers, son of coach Doc Rivers. Eyebrows were raised when the team acquired him because he was young, inconsistent and he is the coach’s son, making Doc the first in the NBA with a son on his team. By the time the playoffs rolled around, Austin was playing rather well. He had some big games with clutch play. During the offseason he worked with assistant coach Sam Cassell on his mid-range jump shot. Rivers can play both backcourt positions and he’ll enter the season as the first guard off the bench. What was a weakness last season is now LA’s strength and Doc has no issues using his reserves in clutch situations. While several Mavericks work on returning from injuries, the team’s bench will be tested early in the season. Devin Harris, Raymond Felton and J.J. Barea will get plenty of minutes with Matthews and Williams working their way into the rotation. This gives LA a decided edge when the starters take a blow so keep an eye on the live betting numbers.
ODDS AND PREDICTION
The Mavericks have never had a losing record under the ownership of Mark Cuban and that likely won’t change this season. But the expectations have been tempered a bit. Dallas lost out on two big men during the offseason when they failed to lure LA’s Jordan and in the process saw Tyson Chandler walk to Phoenix. That leaves Eastern Conference journeyman Zaza Pachulia to plug the middle. While he wasn’t the Mavs first choice, or even their second, and probably not their third, to man the middle, he is there. Dallas has some nice pieces to go with Dirk and the backcourt, once healthy, should be fun to watch. But age is still a factor and the depth is more concerning. Coach Rick Carlisle will earn every bit of that new contract extension he’s getting and he’ll get his first headache of the season watching the Clippers run around his team.
Los Angeles 114, Dallas 103
The NBA odds for this game will first open at BookMaker Sportsbook. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time odds and player props during the game. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The contest pitting the Dallas Mavericks versus the Los Angeles Clippers will commence Thursday, October 29, 2015, at 10:30 p.m. ET at Staples Center. The contest will be broadcast nationally on TNT.
