Preview of Clippers vs. Warriors: Leonard Out & Harden Leads the Charge as Warriors Unveil New Roster

At 7 PM on October 6, NBA preseason action continues as the Clippers face off against the Warriors in Hawaii.

The Los Angeles Clippers finished fourth in the Western Conference last season. In the first round of the playoffs, they faced the Mavericks, and Leonard’s injury affected the team, ultimately leading to their elimination with a 2-4 loss. During the offseason, the Clippers decided to make changes, not offering George a maximum contract extension, which led him to join the 76ers. The Clippers also traded away Westbrook and brought in players like S. Porter, Dunn, Batum, among others. These roster changes have caused some skepticism, but Harden remains confident about the new season.

Leonard will be absent from this game, having undergone surgery during the offseason and still not fully recovered, missing out on 5v5 training at the camp. Leonard’s physical condition will determine the Clippers’ trajectory in the new season, given that he is a top-ten player when healthy. On a positive note, Harden’s condition is excellent, stating it’s the best he’s felt in several seasons. His role in the new season will be crucial, with head coach Tyronn Lue emphasizing: “Harden needs to play like Houston Harden, leading this young team.”

The Golden State Warriors made it to the play-in tournament last season but failed to secure a playoff spot. They made changes during the offseason, officially saying goodbye to the “Curry-Chase-Thompson” era, with Thompson leaving for the Mavericks. Following Thompson’s departure, the Warriors acted in free agency, signing plug-and-play players like Melton, Hield, and Li Kaile. Coupled with the growth of young players like Kuminga and Pozhemska, along with the core of Curry, Green, and Wiggins, the Warriors’ new lineup holds promise.

Like the Clippers, the Warriors will also be without a key player for their opener, with Wiggins missing all training camp practices due to illness, and his return date for the preseason games remains uncertain. Besides Wiggins, the rest of the team is healthy, with Curry representing Team USA at the Paris Olympics this summer and winning his first Olympic gold medal. Draymond Green remains confident about the team’s future, saying, “We can still win championships, and neither Curry nor I are ready to end this journey.”

This is the first preseason game for both teams in the new season. However, the main players won’t play for long, mostly just getting a feel for the game. More focus will be placed on role players, allowing them to showcase their abilities while the team evaluates them. Both the Clippers and the Warriors have made changes to their rosters during the offseason, and the performance of the newcomers will be a key point of interest. As for the outcome of the game, it’s not a major concern since it’s just a preseason match.

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