When we last saw the Clippers, they gave up a 31 lead to the Nuggets in the Western Conference semis.

In the aftermath of that, as noted, their chemistry problems right, Doc Rivers gets fired this offseason.

They hire tile.

Ooh, they lose.

Mantra is Harold to the Lakers.

Pick up Serge Ibaka to reunite with Kawai after their 2019 title run.

Paul George also signed that big extension.

So, um, do the Clippers feel like their chemistry issues are behind them?

Oh, I mean, this is definitely still an issue for them that they're working on.

Like the Clippers should send bouquets to the Houston Rockets and Kyrie Irving for basically taking away from them as far as being the biggest drama in the N B A.

Those two guys were making the Clippers look functional.

Okay, I kind of like in this Rachel, too.

Like I'm one of the few lucky people that just got a PlayStation five, which is, like, impossible to get, Rachel.

And the thing is like, once you get it into your cart and you've purchased it, that's only half the battle, because now you gotta wait for it to actually come and get to you.

And you hear all these horror stories of being of it being delivered in the actual PlayStation box and people jacking them.

Okay.

And I'm getting to my point here.

Is that for the Clippers in their chemistry?

Yes, They made some changes with Doc Rivers to tie Lou, maybe in addition by subtraction, by losing the Six men a year mantra is heralded bringing Serge Ibaka, who has familiarity with quite Leonard.

But, like until I got my PlayStation five until you see it and feel it in your hands.

The Clippers don't have that chemistry yet, and that is something that they're gonna have to work on.

And there's gonna be bumps ing.

There's gonna be bumps along the way for sure, because they're learning a new system under Ty Lue.

Yes, Tyler was there last year under Doc Rivers, but as Tyler said, this is a whole new system.

They've got new players, new faces to bring in, and there's a lot of pressure on quien Paul, and it just doesn't work out if they have another collapse another unimaginable catastrophe in the postseason.

Yes.

What?

Kawhi Leonard has a player option to this contract next summer.

They locked up Paul, George.

But the Clippers, they're still gonna be anxious until they see that chemistry together because they want to keep quiet Leonard next summer as well.

Yeah, I totally agree.

I think that, you know, T.

Lou and the staff, they deserve a fresh start, right?

Because that's a that he just deserves because he's a championship coach.

He's going through all of the stuff you need to go through, and he needs to be able to put his stamp on this team.

The pressure absolutely lies on those two guys.

I mean, look at the amount that the Clippers have invested in having those guys here, the number of picks.

You know, I still always come back to that kid, Chris Alexander.

I love him, right?

Danilo Gallinari was a part of that deal, and they just paid him a four year monster contract.

So I just think that with that investment, those two guys have to take this team to another level, and I think what will be a big difference for them this year is.

Can Reggie Jackson play at a high level as a point guard and really feel that that position that they need?

Because that's the one place I think Everyone that said the Clippers have needed to improve.

So we'll see what Reggie can do in that position that can he make other people better around them?

Yeah, that true floor, General April.

I will just say to everyone, Do not underestimate Serge Ibaka.

He is such a breath of fresh air Everywhere he goes.

He has a really good relationship with quiet.

They've done some fun stuff together.

He's gotten quite out of his comfort zone.

So surge can maybe maybe be that bridge between Kawai and the rest of the team that will lead to better chemistry.

We will see offender can shoot.

Absolutely, but not not just on the court, but off the court is a guy you want in your locker room.

All right.

Here is what Clippers fans will need to binge watch in the first half of the season.

The Clippers, facing the Lakers on TNT, is opening night, and they face the Nuggets on Christmas night.

They also face the Warriors twice in early January, and they will see the Bucks on February 28th on ABC.

So home, Which game would you say is bigger for the Clippers opening night against the Lakers or Christmas night against the Nuggets?

I mean, look, if this was any other team, I would say maybe trying to exercise your demons in the playoffs after having a 31 collapse.

But as Nicola Yokich said at the start of training camp, people are talking about the Clippers losing and not the Nuggets winning that Siri's and the Clippers certainly feel that way throughout camp.

All they've said is how they lost that Siri's and they should have won that series.

This is about the Lakers between these two games, because one you get to measure yourself up against the defending champions.

Granted, we might not see a lot of LeBron and a D on opening night, but they're the Clippers are gonna be in that arena watching them get their rings potentially.

And also mantra is Harold.

The other wrinkle that's in there is on the other side now.

And in the first game, Patrick Beverley Montrose here we're already talking smack to each other.

They're gonna take that up 100 levels on opening night.

So it's definitely the Lakers over the Nuggets.

Totally 100% agree with you own is just when you l a and you're playing in the same building.

Spoken like a just understand what it is, right?

And so you don't think that no way they gotta watch the Lakers get their rings and hang up another banner in the Staples Center.

I remember in Miami when we had to sit in the locker room and watched Dallas doing Oh, yeah, I'm telling you, if you're not filming in there and ready to go and come out with just a chip on your shoulder, we ended up.

I know we were up 30 after three quarters.

It was e.

I mean, those guys.

I came to tell you how they were in the back LeBron and D Wade because they were foaming at the mouth.

And so if the Clippers aren't like that for this game, I don't know what motivates you because these guys have collecting the hardware that you are getting criticized about not being competitive for right in the same building, is you.

You gotta hear it that all the time everywhere you go, I'll give you that.

I'll give you that.

I will say I watched those two teams played last night, and I know it's preseason, but there was no LeBron.

There was no Anthony Davis.

You did have Paul George and quite out there, and I did not see the energy from the Clippers.

That coach Tyler, to his credit, said he didn't see either.

Finally, it's spoiler alert time Caesar's William Hill giving the Clippers the second best odds of winning the Western Conference behind the Lakers.

But in front of some really good teams is what your bold prediction for the Clippers this regular season?

Where do you think they'll end up?

I still think they're gonna be sitting in the third seed because I don't know what's the difference between this year last year, when it comes a low management right?

Is there any difference?

So I think I think those guys are still get rested and they won't win enough games toe win more than Denver and the Lakers.

I think Denver is really and we have to give them credit for who they are, and they're not gonna low manage those young guys were playing.

They're gonna play all 72 I think at the end of it, the Clippers are being that third seed.

But can they get Mawr chemistry out of it this year?

Can they get connected Mawr offensively and defensively, where they're reading and reacting off of each other and playing hard for each other in a sacrificial way?

That's what we didn't see last year.

They were not giving it up for each other, and that's gonna be the difference in a shortened season.

Can they manage those ministers, you know, and keep them healthy?

But can they build chemistry and show a real connection between the locker room guys?