Blazers-Clippers: 5 takeaways as Paul George delivers in season-opening win
Paul George scored 27 points to power the Clippers past the Blazers.
LOS ANGELES — The first victory of the night for the LA Clippers was a long time coming — Paul George and Kawhi Leonard were on the floor together. The second victory happened pretty quickly: The Clippers made short work of the Trail Blazers.
The Clippers are the wild card of the Western Conference, a team with a pair of certified stars, decent depth and a coach who has won an NBA title. They could use a few dozen more of these nights, when all is well and everyone is accounted for.
Here are five takeaways from the Clippers’ 123-111 victory, starting with the biggest (if only) question facing them:
1. Durability trumps ability
When it comes to Leonard and George, it’s all about availability. By now Clippers fans know the cold hard facts about these two tremendously skilled but fragile stars. What good is all that talent if it’s parked on the bench?
This is the start of their fifth season together. Last season, they played 38 games together because of injuries. In four seasons, the Leonard-George duo has played in just 142 games, including playoffs. The Clippers are 96-46 in those games, proof that the combo works.
That’s why Wednesday was so encouraging. As Clippers coach Ty Lue said, “Just having both those guys healthy is very important, if only to give our fans something to be happy about. It’s a long season but having both Leonard and George in the starting lineup on opening night with no restrictions, that’s good to see.”
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PG ➡️ KAWHI pic.twitter.com/WOSAl129zq
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 26, 2023
And yes, no restrictions. Neither player will be on a playing time leash, unlike LeBron James, who won’t get any burn beyond 30 minutes (at least for now).
They combined for 47 points against the Blazers and tag-teamed Portland for 3 1/2 quarters before they found themselves on the bench again. But not because of injury. Because of a blowout.
“If we play like that,” said George, “we’re going to be tough to beat.”
Lue said the Clippers will take the regular season seriously for a change. Not that they have any choice, now that the league has put rules in place to discourage load management.
2. Slow debut for Scoot
There will be better nights for the No. 2 overall pick in 2023, only because it’s all up from here. Scoot Henderson had quite the NBA baptism in a game filled with mistakes, both forced and unforced.
“Just got to learn from this one,” Henderson said. “I’ve got to be more aggressive, get in the paint a little more. I know I’ve got a lot to learn. I was struggling at the beginning and then it became a mind game. I had to have a next-play mentality.”
SCOOT FLOATER
1st NBA bucket ✅ pic.twitter.com/cX2DgMoFcP
— NBA (@NBA) October 26, 2023
He finished with 11 points (scoreless in the first half) and four turnovers, and his only impact came in fourth-quarter garbage time. Curiously, his first NBA game came against Russell Westbrook, the player he was most often compared to during his time in the NBA G League.
“He really looks up to Russ, the way Russ plays, the tenacity, he plays a violent style of game out there,” said Blazers coach Chauncey Billups. “Scoot’s the same. Two ultimate competitors. I remember when the schedule came out, talking to Scoot about it. We were both like, ‘wow, can’t believe that.’ First game.”
3. Westbrook is relaxed, finally
Asked the difference between starting the season with the Clippers compared to arriving in the middle of last season, Westbrook just sighed and smiled.
“Oh, man. Means everything. I know my role, I know what I can do.”
And how does it feel to be at peace?
“Wonderful.”
Westbrook’s career is going through a rejuvenation with the Clippers, following a 1 1/2-year speed bump with the other team in town. Westbrook had an uplifting playoff run last spring while the Clippers dealt with absences from Leonard and George, and kicked off this season with a solid start.
He assumed the playmaking role, which is exactly what the Clippers need, as they try to relieve Leonard and George of that responsibility. Westbrook had 13 assists Wednesday and punctuated his 11 points with a pair of thunderous dunks.
George was among the players who lobbied hard for Westbrook — who re-signed for two years in the offseason — and looks forward to more of what the veteran point guard can bring.
“He’s getting back to his form, back to the high intensity, high character player,” George said. “And being happy. You see the high production that he brings.”
4. And yet … James Harden?
With James Harden and the 76ers entering a new phase of their impasse, Sam Mitchell thinks it's time to move on.
The Clippers are still in play for Harden. Or so it seems. Harden has been asked to stay away from the Sixers for the time being after being away from the team for a week. He remains in a stare-down with Philadelphia GM Daryl Morey in what is a test of wills.
Harden wants a trade to the Clippers, who apparently are unwilling to overpay for an aging but still productive star on a one-year contract. The holdup could be an unwillingness by the Clippers to part with Terance Mann, who was an injury scratch Wednesday.
At the moment, Harden needs the Clippers more than they need him. They’re a top-five or six team in the West and a potential title contender if their stars are healthy this spring. Meanwhile, Harden is a player without a strong suitor.
Something may happen by the February 8 trade deadline, because plenty can force either team’s hand by then. As it stands now, it’s more of a disruption for the Sixers than the Clippers.
5. Youth needs time in Portland
The Blazers know going into this season that they’re a work in progress. And nothing about the opener changed that perception. With the exception of Malcolm Brogdon, who led Portland in scoring with 20 points, none of the players in the rotation are older than 26.
And the highest-drafted player in the rotation had a rough debut Wednesday. No, not Henderson, a No. 2 pick, but Deandre Ayton, the former No. 1 overall pick from the 2018 Draft (which produced All-Stars Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander).
Ayton had foul trouble much of the night, which limited him to 23 minutes. And when he was on the floor, he had no rhythm except when it came to grabbing rebounds (12). He finished with four points and five fouls.
He was one of the key assets fetched in the Damian Lillard trade. Portland swapped him for the future, basically, and seems destined for another fall to the draft lottery.
The Blazers could get even younger at the trade deadline if they ship out veteran forward Jerami Grant. He signed a reported five-year, $160 million deal in the offseason and is a tradable player on a team that will struggle with or without him.
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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