Patrick Beverley and Doc Rivers both talked about the Phoenix Suns ahead of the LA Clippers' matchup with the team on Tuesday.
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00:00 On Tuesday, the LA Clippers will face off with a team that will arguably be their weakest
00:04 bubble opponent yet, the Phoenix Suns.
00:06 So far, the Clippers have played against the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans
00:10 in two seeding games, splitting their slate at 1-1.
00:13 Phoenix has the worst record out of the three, has won both of its seeding games against
00:17 the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks.
00:19 Despite the Suns' low chance of actually making it into the playoffs, it's a team that's still
00:22 fighting hard for a spot, which is something the Clippers guard Patrick Beverly commented
00:26 on during his media session on Monday, saying, "I think they're one of the thirstier teams
00:30 here.
00:31 Ricky Rubio and Devin Booker kind of set the tone with the Andre Ayton there.
00:34 They've been a good test for us.
00:35 We understand they're going to come in and play hard, extremely as hard as possible.
00:39 We've got to match that intensity throughout the game."
00:41 In addition to Phoenix's solid young core, Clippers coach Doc Rivers complimented the
00:46 team's coaching, saying, "Number one, they're just a well-coached team.
00:50 They play hard.
00:51 They play in space.
00:52 Devin Booker is just going to be and is a terrific player, terrific offensive player
00:57 who plays very aggressively.
00:58 Rubio is very clever.
00:59 So they have a lot of skilled players to deal with."
01:02 Oddly enough, the Suns handed the Clippers their first loss this season back in October,
01:06 122-130 in Phoenix.
01:08 Granted, LA was without Paul George and still just in the Quail-Leonard era back then, but
01:13 it still stands a testament to what this team can achieve when motivated.
01:17 Fortunately, LA could be a key piece back in a Tuesday matchup with Phoenix as Lou Williams
01:22 who was wrapping up his 10-day quarantine officially had his status upgraded to questionable
01:26 on Monday afternoon.
01:28 Getting Williams back would surely boost LA's offense and give him one more edge over the
01:32 Suns so long as he's in playing shape.
01:34 He looked good in the Clippers' first scrimmage game on July 22nd, but we haven't seen him
01:37 since then.
01:39 Regardless of who is and isn't on the floor, the Clippers can't afford to play down to
01:43 their opponent tomorrow.
01:44 Phoenix is looking to pull an upset, and LA could further the gap between them and Devin
01:48 Nuggets with a win.
01:50 Clippers and Phoenix Suns will face off on Tuesday, August 4th at 4pm Eastern Time.