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Hardwood Classics Night

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CLIPPERS AIMING TO GET RIGHT BACK ON WINNING TRACK VS. GRIZZLIES IN HARDWOOD CLASSIC MATCH-UP - RYAN MENEZES
Once the adrenaline rush from going toe-to-toe with their down-the-hall rival subsides, the Clippers will be faced with another test nearly as tough when they take on the Memphis Grizzles in a nationally televised game (TNT) at STAPLES Center at 7:30 p.m.

For the Clippers, coming off a night where the lights were low and the emotions were high, a Thursday night matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies could be a good litmus test for how the rest of the season will transpire.

PROBABLE STARTERS

Conley Allen Gay Speights Gasol PG SG SF PF C Paul Billups Butler Griffin Jordan PG SG SF PF C

The Clippers (9-6), who still sit atop the Pacific Division standings despite Wednesday’s 96-91 loss to the Lakers, have shown that they can hang with any team on any given night, an emphatic proclamation made by Vice President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey before the season started that has so far held true.

Now it comes down to whether the Clippers can deal with the ebbs and flows of the season, as quick as it has become.

Before the tip tonight at against the Grizzlies (10-7) at Staples Center, here are some questions the Clippers will have to answer:

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Can this Clippers team learn on the fly?

The Clippers were hammered with questions about their ability to gel prior to the season’s start. The answer is still coming, and a lot of that has to do with the injuries numerous Clippers have suffered. At least one of the Clippers six key rotation players – Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, Caron Butler, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Mo Williams – has been held out of nine out of their fifteen games. Only Griffin and Jordan have made it through unscathed. With less than half the season to play a whole, healthy unit, the Clippers have been prone to mistakes, especially late in games. They were finally back at full strength Wednesday when Chris Paul made his return, but will have to make adjustments quickly with their group finally together again.

When holding a lead, can the Clippers keep it?

The Clippers once again squandered a lead Wednesday night, one that was slim but was in the hands of the Clippers’ for a majority of the game. They did the same against the Nets on Jan. 16 (an eventual win), the Mavericks on Jan. 18 (a win) and the Timberwolves on Jan. 20 (loss) to make it four occurrences in the last two weeks. Having their All-Star floor general back in Paul helped, but he was forced to play limited minutes against the Lakers. With the lead as slim as it was, the Clippers needed better than the two 20-point quarters they put up after halftime against the Lakers, which just wasn’t enough to win the game.

Can the Grizzlies surprise the Clippers with fresh legs?

The game will be played on the Clippers’ home floor, but the Grizzlies have a slight edge in the freshness department having been idle on Tuesday as they wind down a West Coast road trip. So far this season, the Clippers are 2-1 after playing the previous night. The Grizzlies, a trendy pick to rise in the Western Conference after a captivating run as the No. 8 seed in the playoffs last season, are without their franchise player and former Clippers forward Zach Randolph. Memphis has stayed afloat, but has beaten only two teams with winning records. The last came last week – a surprising 102-86 beat down of the Chicago Bulls. One lesson learned from last season’s playoffs: Don’t sleep on the Grizzlies.