This preseason opener turns on what happens after the established players sit down. Steve Kerr plans to use Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Al Horford only in the first half. Tyronn Lue has a rebuilt group and just three preseason games to work through his combinations. The longer look at those new Clippers units makes this matchup interesting to me.
The Clippers have spent training camp in Honolulu, where this game is being played. Darius Garland gives Lue a creator, while Max Strus provides shooting and has already played alongside Garland. Those connections give the new group a way to keep its offense moving as the rotations widen.
Golden State's recent wins in the prepared record came from summer league, and the teams' spring meeting involved a different Clippers roster. Kerr's younger players have useful minutes together, but this game asks them to carry much more of the second half than the familiar names suggest.
