GAME #42: fLAKERS (22-22) @ LAC (27-14) TUES 1/23—7PM, TNT

[esqtvd]

NBA POWER RANKINGS 1/22/2024

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[esqtvd]

woof

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[illastrate]

Can we please be serious and put the Lakers away this time? Goofed around too much the first two matchups.

[KL2]

Lebron is out. Better win no excuses.

[donemilio21]

Can we please be serious and put the Lakers away this time? Goofed around too much the first two matchups.

goofed around is an understatement. I was at the game day after Halloween and oh boy we had our chances. Watching Russ and Bones miss back to back 3 in the last 15 seconds was excruciating. We didn't have Harden yet, and I think Norm and PG were fouled out, and we couldn't find a way to get the ball to Kawhi.

[Wammy Giveaway]

Clippers are forced to win this third game. Lose, Lakers win the season series, and they will have all the psychological edge needed to perhaps sweep Clippers out of the playoffs. For a team so excited to enter their new arena, they don't wanna go out like that, not with the fates of Paul George, James Harden and Russell Westbrook all on the balance.

However, if Clippers can at least tie the season series, we are on a course for a playoff match. Over the years, Clipper's playoff opponents have usually been against those whose season series were tied with. Have a look:

2012 Lockout Season: Grizzlies (2-1), Spurs (1-2)
2012-13: Grizzlies (3-1)
2013-14: Warriors (2-2), Thunder (2-2)
2014-15: Spurs (2-2), Rockets (2-2)
2015-16: Blazers (3-1)
2016-17: Jazz (3-1)
2018-19 (Revenge Of The Role Players): Warriors (1-3)
2019-20 (shortened due to COVID-19 Pandemic): Mavericks (3-0; 1 game cancelled), Nuggets (2-1; 1 game cancelled)
2020-21 (shortened): Mavericks (1-2), Jazz (1-2), Suns (2-1)
2022-23: Suns (2-2)

Season Series Results to Playoff Results
Victories: 7, 2-5
Defeats: 4, 2-2
Ties: 5, 2-3

As you can see, Clippers fair very poorly against teams they've won a regular season series against, that's easy. A 2-2 record against teams they've lost to seems great, but take away the 2019 Revenge Of The Role Players season because of a semi-rebuild with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the record should really read 2-1: now we're talking... small sample size, however.

It's the ties that intrigue me. Three years the Clippers were in the playoffs, their opponents were all against season series ties, 2014, 2015, 2023. If you want to throw away the 2023 loss because George and Leonard got injuries at the worst times, making it a 2-2 record, you can. The matchups against season series ties feels the most complete, three of the four meetings lasted seven games, and the Clippers-Spurs series has become one of legend for many a hardcore NBA archivist. It only feels right that a Clippers-Lakers playoff matchup requires a season series tie, but the fanboi in me predicts we won't get this unless a former Clipper savior humbles himself with a buyout for two to three months of futile revisionist history. Who knows if he'll play after his latest hand injury, but by George, Chris Paul vs. Clippers 3.0 would be a reckoning unlike any other playoff matchup in all of NBA history.

So I pen you this question: want to lose the season series and get swept out of the playoffs, or tie the series and face their greatest test ever as an NBA competitor?

[jengmann3]

If LeBron was playing I'd be more adamant about winning for the sake of the rivalry. I really just want to keep pace with Minnesota, okc, and Denver. Now only one game back in the loss column. I think Phoenix will join this group. So 5 semi elite teams in the west, id rather not play one of them in the first round so a top 3 seed would be ideal.
Wayyy too long winded. Back to the game, I think it will be close but hopefully the team will be able to pull it out

[esqtvd]

Clippers are forced to win this third game. Lose, Lakers win the season series, and they will have all the psychological edge needed to perhaps sweep Clippers out of the playoffs. For a team so excited to enter their new arena, they don't wanna go out like that, not with the fates of Paul George, James Harden and Russell Westbrook all on the balance.

However, if Clippers can at least tie the season series, we are on a course for a playoff match. Over the years, Clipper's playoff opponents have usually been against those whose season series were tied with. Have a look:

2012 Lockout Season: Grizzlies (2-1), Spurs (1-2)
2012-13: Grizzlies (3-1)
2013-14: Warriors (2-2), Thunder (2-2)
2014-15: Spurs (2-2), Rockets (2-2)
2015-16: Blazers (3-1)
2016-17: Jazz (3-1)
2018-19 (Revenge Of The Role Players): Warriors (1-3)
2019-20 (shortened due to COVID-19 Pandemic): Mavericks (3-0; 1 game cancelled), Nuggets (2-1; 1 game cancelled)
2020-21 (shortened): Mavericks (1-2), Jazz (1-2), Suns (2-1)
2022-23: Suns (2-2)

Season Series Results to Playoff Results
Victories: 7, 2-5
Defeats: 4, 2-2
Ties: 5, 2-3

As you can see, Clippers fair very poorly against teams they've won a regular season series against, that's easy. A 2-2 record against teams they've lost to seems great, but take away the 2019 Revenge Of The Role Players season because of a semi-rebuild with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the record should really read 2-1: now we're talking... small sample size, however.

It's the ties that intrigue me. Three years the Clippers were in the playoffs, their opponents were all against season series ties, 2014, 2015, 2023. If you want to throw away the 2023 loss because George and Leonard got injuries at the worst times, making it a 2-2 record, you can. The matchups against season series ties feels the most complete, three of the four meetings lasted seven games, and the Clippers-Spurs series has become one of legend for many a hardcore NBA archivist. It only feels right that a Clippers-Lakers playoff matchup requires a season series tie, but the fanboi in me predicts we won't get this unless a former Clipper savior humbles himself with a buyout for two to three months of futile revisionist history. Who knows if he'll play after his latest hand injury, but by George, Chris Paul vs. Clippers 3.0 would be a reckoning unlike any other playoff matchup in all of NBA history.

So I pen you this question: want to lose the season series and get swept out of the playoffs, or tie the series and face their greatest test ever as an NBA competitor?

Just win, baby. After 40 years of misery and disappointment, beating a 36 year old Steph Curry or a 106 year old LeBron James wouldn't make it even the tiniest bit sweeter.

[clipperlover]

Clippers are forced to win this third game. Lose, Lakers win the season series, and they will have all the psychological edge needed to perhaps sweep Clippers out of the playoffs.

You think Kawhi is going to think he can't beat the Lakers in the playoffs because of the regular? LeBron might get up for Kawhi in a regular season match-up, but Kawhi certainly does not. Kawhi earned his 1st Finals MVP against a prime LeBron.

[KingCrimzzon]

Clippers are forced to win this third game. Lose, Lakers win the season series, and they will have all the psychological edge needed to perhaps sweep Clippers out of the playoffs. For a team so excited to enter their new arena, they don't wanna go out like that, not with the fates of Paul George, James Harden and Russell Westbrook all on the balance.

However, if Clippers can at least tie the season series, we are on a course for a playoff match. Over the years, Clipper's playoff opponents have usually been against those whose season series were tied with. Have a look:

2012 Lockout Season: Grizzlies (2-1), Spurs (1-2)
2012-13: Grizzlies (3-1)
2013-14: Warriors (2-2), Thunder (2-2)
2014-15: Spurs (2-2), Rockets (2-2)
2015-16: Blazers (3-1)
2016-17: Jazz (3-1)
2018-19 (Revenge Of The Role Players): Warriors (1-3)
2019-20 (shortened due to COVID-19 Pandemic): Mavericks (3-0; 1 game cancelled), Nuggets (2-1; 1 game cancelled)
2020-21 (shortened): Mavericks (1-2), Jazz (1-2), Suns (2-1)
2022-23: Suns (2-2)

Season Series Results to Playoff Results
Victories: 7, 2-5
Defeats: 4, 2-2
Ties: 5, 2-3

As you can see, Clippers fair very poorly against teams they've won a regular season series against, that's easy. A 2-2 record against teams they've lost to seems great, but take away the 2019 Revenge Of The Role Players season because of a semi-rebuild with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the record should really read 2-1: now we're talking... small sample size, however.

It's the ties that intrigue me. Three years the Clippers were in the playoffs, their opponents were all against season series ties, 2014, 2015, 2023. If you want to throw away the 2023 loss because George and Leonard got injuries at the worst times, making it a 2-2 record, you can. The matchups against season series ties feels the most complete, three of the four meetings lasted seven games, and the Clippers-Spurs series has become one of legend for many a hardcore NBA archivist. It only feels right that a Clippers-Lakers playoff matchup requires a season series tie, but the fanboi in me predicts we won't get this unless a former Clipper savior humbles himself with a buyout for two to three months of futile revisionist history. Who knows if he'll play after his latest hand injury, but by George, Chris Paul vs. Clippers 3.0 would be a reckoning unlike any other playoff matchup in all of NBA history.

So I pen you this question: want to lose the season series and get swept out of the playoffs, or tie the series and face their greatest test ever as an NBA competitor?

Just win, baby. After 40 years of misery and disappointment, beating a 36 year old Steph Curry or a 106 year old LeBron James wouldn't make it even the tiniest bit sweeter.

This. In the end hardware is all anyone will ever remember. Nobody cares/remembers that Durant, Klay, Looney, Boogie were all hurt when the Raptors won their Chip.

[esqtvd]

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[Kelphus]

Vegas has no idea.... Clips by 15+

[clipperlover]

This. In the end hardware is all anyone will ever remember. Nobody cares/remembers that Durant, Klay, Looney, Boogie were all hurt when the Raptors won their Chip.

And no one remembers in their 1st run to the playoffs that Mike Conley broke his face in series clincher in the the 1st round and missed Game 1. No one remembers that the Griz were up 2-1 before Tony Allen hurt his hamstring in Game 4 and playing only 20 toal minutes from Game 4-6.

No one remembers in Durant's 1st WCF with GS that the Spurs were up 78-55 in the 3rd Qtr in Game 1 BEFORE Kawhi went out with injury until 2018-2019.

GS benefited from injuries in their Finals runs, so I find it amusing when they try to downgrade Toronto's win. Kawhi won that title while playing hobbled vs the prime Kawhi and #1 Def Rtg Spurs that were on their way to locking down the Warriors in 2016-2017.

[KL2]

I wish Leonard was more selfish.

[Scoundreldays]

Dlo's flop shots annoy me. He doesn't deserve that type of whistle

[KL2]

Solid first quarter.cant let up though.

[esqtvd]

I wish Leonard was more selfish.

KL scored 14 points in the 4th Q the other night. It's how he rolls.

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Kawhi only steps up and shoots [and scores] when the team needs it. He prefers to let everybody else get the glory. He'd rather PG or anybody else be the lead singer. He's the anti-Kobe. He'd rather get the winning assist or block than the winning basket.

[og15]

Would have preferred no and 1 basket by the Lakers to end the half, but up 13 is good. A strong 3rd quarter would be great.

[MartinToVaught]

This third quarter has been an atrocity. No rebounding or defense, just lazy basketball being played.

[MartinToVaught]

Russ!