Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors: Christmas Day Game Preview
By Terri Washington
@Terri7589
Getty Images
The Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors have become the Western Conference’s biggest surprises in recent seasons. Not only has each team turned their franchise around and created a culture of winning, but they have created a stiff competition between the two of them as well.
When the Clippers have gone head to head with the Warriors in the last few seasons, each game has been filled with physical altercations. It seems obvious that these teams do not like each other. The Clippers bested the Warriors in the first round of the 2014 playoffs, and the Warriors embarrassed the Clippers earlier in the 2014-15 season beating them by 17 points, their worst loss so far this season.
The Clippers and Warriors will meet once again on Christmas night. Being one of just five games on during the holiday solidifies the elite status for both teams. The teams went against each other last year on Christmas night in a game that not only ended with both teams getting into a shoving and screaming match but a game where each team had players ejected.
For the first time ever on Christmas, the Clippers will have home-court advantage over the Warriors. The Clippers have a tendency to falter to the Warriors in Oakland. The reason could be because Warriors fans are some of the loudest and most loyal in the league and the team’s roster just keeps improving. With the Clippers in their own territory, they may have asked for just the right gift from Santa Claus. They will have their own fans’ support in a venue where they are 11-3 on the year.
Although the Clippers can get more comfortable at home, the Warriors will not go down so easily on the road. The Warriors’ road record stands at 13-3. They have no problem winning on the road, or in general, this year. The Warriors have the best record in the league, and they are not only dominating the Western Conference; they are taking the Clippers’ third consecutive division championship banner away with every win.
The favorite to win the game would have to be the Warriors due to the way they are dominating everyone else. They are much better team on paper than the Clippers. Both teams stack up against one another in points and assists, but the Warriors have the upper hand in both rebounding and points allowed. The Clippers, surprisingly, are ranked at No. 28 in the league in rebounding, whereas the Warriors are ranked at No. 5. In order for the Clippers to win, their defense must be better than it has been all season.
No matter what the outcome of the game is there are sure to be spectacular plays, plenty of three balls and at least a few physical altercations amongst the two teams on Christmas Day. Playing against each other once again on Christmas has helped in building quite the rivalry between the Clippers and Warriors, and it’s a rivalry many NBA fans cannot wait to see unfold.
Terri Washington is a Los Angeles Clippers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @Terri7589, “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google
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