Game Preview: Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Clippers

What: Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Clippers

When: Monday, 2/22/16 at 8:30 AZT, 7:30 PT

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles

TV: NBATV

Radio: 98.7 FM, Arizona Sports

The Suns, after a rough loss in the first game sans-'Kieff, are looking to right the ship against the Los Angeles Clippers. They'll be hoping that the Clippers, still without star PF Blake Griffin and integrating new piece Jeff Green, will be unable to hang with the new Young Gun Suns.

Phoenix Suns Keys to the Game

The Suns face an uphill battle against the Clippers who, despite being without Griffin, still have a formidable starting unit with Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and DeAndre Jordan.

As in seasons past, however, the Clippers' bench remains atrocious, and the Suns should have a relative advantage here. If the starting unit can come out and keep up with Paul and the starting unit, the team should be able to exploit the weakness of the Clippers' bench to keep the game respectable.

Position Battle to Watch

Kris Humphries/Jon Leuer/Mirza Teletovic vs. whoever the Clippers trot out at PF. In their last matchup, against the Warriors, the Clippers started Paul Pierce, but that didn't last long. The Suns' power forward group would likely eat Pierce alive on the offensive end.

However, Jeff Green presents a matchup problem for the Suns' group, and if he can get hot, it could be a long night for the bigs.

What's That Number?

40%. The Suns need to shoot around 40% from three in order to keep this game close. We're likely to be at a disadvantage when it comes to paint scoring, so the team will need to make up by shooting lights out from deep.

Prediction

Clippers 111, Suns 98

The tank rolls on. These are the kinds of games we should lose, and I don't think this one ends up any different.