Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Clippers game preview

I miss Patrick Beverley. It’s a shame that he’s injured and will miss the rest of the season. The Rockets will also not face Blake Griffin, Wesley Johnson, or Danilo Gallinari.

How injured are the Clippers? They are playing guys I’ve never heard of. I write previews all the time. I know most of the end-of-the-bench guys in the NBA from their time in college or as journeymen around the league.

Some guy named C.J. Williams started for them the other night against Phoenix. He’s a 27-year-old rookie. That would be crazy enough, except they have a second 27-year-old rookie starter named Jamil Wilson. It would be one thing if they were filling in the gaps with these guys, but again, they STARTED. And they played 57 minutes combined. Oh, and they’re giving Jawun Evans and Sindarius Thornwell (rookies drafted in the second round this year) minutes off the bench.

Houston will be without Chris Paul, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and probably Clint Capela as well. What was likely considered a top game with tons of fan interest will be undoubtedly muted by the lack of stars.

The Clippers still have three former Rockets in Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, and Sam Dekker. Based on Corey Brewer’s performance two nights ago, they will be trying to show Houston what it’s missing without them.

I’ll be interested to see where Mike D’Antoni goes with his rotation now down three players. Will he just play six players?

Tip-off is at 7pm CT on ESPN