The Clippers Are Rolling Out a Chaotic, Center-Less Starting Lineup on Friday

The Los Angeles Clippers are starting Darius Garland, Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr., Rui Hachimura, and Reggie Jackson on Friday. If you read that group of names and assumed it was a trade machine screenshot that got rejected for salary matching, you are completely forgiven.

This is not a real NBA frontcourt. This is a 2K MyTeam generated from expired locker codes. Rolling out three guards, two forwards, and absolutely zero true centers against the Minnesota Timberwolves is the kind of chaotic basketball experiment that usually ends with a 20-point deficit in the first quarter.

"Lineup alert: Clippers will start Garland, Dunn, Jones Jr., Hachimura, Jackson on Friday. (@UnderdogNBA)"

The culprit, as always, is the medical report. Kawhi Leonard is currently sidelined with a right ankle sprain and a knee contusion, which means the Clippers' rotation has officially entered the blender.

Los Angeles is desperately trying to bounce back from a 103-87 rock fight loss to the Lakers that dropped them to a bleak 1-3 on the season. To fix it, they are handing the keys to Garland, who is still working his way back from offseason toe surgery, and asking a microscopic lineup to somehow secure a defensive rebound.

If you are looking at the prop market tonight, this rotation is a total wild card. Without a traditional big man on the floor, the rebounding totals for Hachimura and Jones Jr. are going to be a fascinating watch, especially against a Minnesota team that actually employs centers.

The Clippers tip off against the Timberwolves on Friday night. We will find out very quickly if this ultra-small-ball configuration is a temporary stroke of mad genius or just a desperate survival tactic to get through the week.