3. Houston Rockets @ LA Clippers – January 15th
In what is another return, Chris Paul will face his old team in mid-January. Paul’s decision to leave the Clippers caught many off guard. While some fans will resent him for leaving, smart fans (like myself) realized it was time for a change. The fact that the Clippers were able to receive a decent package for Paul is fantastic, considering he could have left for nothing. However, this game will still be hotly contested, because these teams have a rivalry dating back to the 2015 WCSF. Where the Clippers infamously *sigh* blew a 3-1 lead.
The Clippers have only retained two starters from last year, so they will certainly have a new look. The Clippers acquired several depth players and one or two starters through the Paul trade. LAC should be in contention for a playoff spot if everyone (especially Blake) stays healthy. Houston, on the other hand, may finally be able to give Golden State a challenge. The Rockets now have arguably the best backcourt in the league and have surrounded them with a bevy of shooters.
This game will certainly be one to watch, as most returns are. However, it will be most interesting to see how Blake plays against Paul who many have claimed he butted heads with often. The same point could be made for Paul who may want to humiliate the team he may feel let him down often times. The game will be shown on TNT at 10:30 ET/7:30 PT.