Please join our live discussion on Lakers and Clippers

Join us for our Google+ Hangout today at 11:30 a.m. as Times Lakers reporter Mike Bresnahan and Clippers reporter Brad Turner discuss the two teams and what to expect in the upcoming weeks.

The Lakers are coming off a 114-80 loss to Utah in an exhibition game Tuesday night. As Bresnahan wrote,

“Kobe Bryant had 31 points as the Lakers went without Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard. Nash played the entire first quarter and did not return.

Gasol sat out because he was fatigued, Coach Mike Brown said.

Fatigued? This early in the season?

“Pau played in the Olympics and he’s had a long summer, so I’m going to give him a little rest,” Brown said.”

The Clippers are back from China, where they played a couple of exhibitions against the Miami Heat. As Turner wrote,

“In two weeks, the Clippers will open the regular season after training camp and the dress rehearsals of exhibition games are over.

After the first 21/2 weeks of practices and three exhibition games, at least in the eyes of Chris Paul, the Clippers have made the right strides to be ready for that Oct. 31 game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center.

“I think we’re right where we need to be,” Paul said after practice Tuesday. “We never want to peak too early. We’re showing a lot of good signs in a few areas, but we still need a lot of work in other areas. So, tomorrow is another good test for us.”

If you have questions for Bresnahan or Turner, send them in an email to sportshangout@latimes.com and we will try to answer them on the air.