Golden State host Memphis without a real centre: Porzingis is away from the team and Bassey missed the opener, and Memphis bring one of the biggest frontcourts in the league. Across town, the Lakers' opening win was built on interior finishing against a Warriors side with no centre. The Clippers bring two genuine centres and all of their perimeter defenders into the upcoming match.
In the Warriors' opener, Green, Horford and Ike covered the centre minutes and the Lakers won the boards with their centre going 12 for 12. Memphis have Edey, Boozer and Jackson, who controlled the glass against Utah. Golden State's aggressive coverage gives up lobs and short rolls, which only feeds the ball to Edey near the rim. The Warriors' answer is Curry and their three-point volume, but they have not been shooting well in the early sample.
Edey's minutes are managed, so Memphis's best stretches come while he is on the floor rather than all game, and Coward's absence thins their wing. I see the rebounding edge as the larger force in this match, but as a margin story rather than an outright win. That's why I'm siding with Memphis to keep it close.
The Clippers' five absences are all scorers, and every one of them also missed the opener the Clippers won comfortably, so the current roster has already shown what it can do. Jackson and Lopez take away the Kessler lob game that carried the Lakers last time. Dunn and Jones Jr. stay in front of Doncic and Reaves. Both teams turned it over 18 times in their openers, so neither has an edge there.
The Lakers' best stretch should come when Garland sits and the Clippers' bench has to create. I still expect Garland, the Clippers' rebounding and their trips to the line to keep this inside a comfortable Lakers win. That's why I'm siding with the Clippers to stay within range.
