GAME THREAD - Now it counts. Playoff #1 vs. Mavs 6 p.m. PST ESPN

[NippySudz]

Clippers took their foot off the gas after they went up early. They thought the game was about to be easy. Also, Dallas hit 12 threes in the first half but finished with 15. Their first half shooting wasn't the norm. I actually think the Clippers come back Wednesday focused and possibly blow them out. This was a nice wake up call

I agree. The bench has to match the defensive intensity. I'm really disappointed in shamet this year. Man, I thought he was going to be great. Maybe he needs to get more muscle mass. The guy is a fly defensively. He's being shooed away. He's not hitting his threes. I wonder if he ever fully recovered from that high ankle sprain.

[NippySudz]

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[Max Headrom]

Clippers took their foot off the gas after they went up early. They thought the game was about to be easy. Also, Dallas hit 12 threes in the first half but finished with 15. Their first half shooting wasn't the norm. I actually think the Clippers come back Wednesday focused and possibly blow them out. This was a nice wake up call

I agree. The bench has to match the defensive intensity. I'm really disappointed in shamet this year. Man, I thought he was going to be great. Maybe he needs to get more muscle mass. The guy is a fly defensively. He's being shooed away. He's not hitting his threes. I wonder if he ever fully recovered from that high ankle sprain.

I've heard from insiders it's a confidence thing with him. Remember how he competed against Curry in the playoffs last year on defense?? Had me hyped and looking forward to him in his second year. I think he'll eventually hit some big shots though. I'll give him a couple of games since he's just coming back from injury but, definitely need more from him.

[NippySudz]

It makes no sense to bury reggie jackson because his bubble stretch of games. We need him to play better. We need him to find a rhytym. some of you would have wanted fred van vleet on the bench last year the way he was playing in the early 2 rounds and much of the ECF.

We need to build confidence. They'll probably be more conservative with him but we don't need to can this guy for a rookie.

[NippySudz]

Clippers took their foot off the gas after they went up early. They thought the game was about to be easy. Also, Dallas hit 12 threes in the first half but finished with 15. Their first half shooting wasn't the norm. I actually think the Clippers come back Wednesday focused and possibly blow them out. This was a nice wake up call

I agree. The bench has to match the defensive intensity. I'm really disappointed in shamet this year. Man, I thought he was going to be great. Maybe he needs to get more muscle mass. The guy is a fly defensively. He's being shooed away. He's not hitting his threes. I wonder if he ever fully recovered from that high ankle sprain.

I've heard from insiders it's a confidence thing with him. Remember how he competed against Curry in the playoffs last year on defense?? Had me hyped and looking forward to him in his second year. I think he'll eventually hit some big shots though. I'll give him a couple of games since he's just coming back from injury but, definitely need more from him.

he probably can't get a good rhytym with the rotation hes playing. He'll get it together eventually.

[playaloc916]

Major props for Marcus Senior tonight--19 points on 8-13 shooting and a team-high plus+25. HE took the minutes at the 5 tonight to close out the game.

Yeah, I actually think Morris was the player of the game for me. He was pretty efficient, hit some really timely threes, and played some great defense on Doncic. Not many in the league can guard that kid, he's just a really special player.

[Roscoe Sheed]

I’m happy they were able to pull out this game but I was upset with how easy it looked for Doncic. Yes, he did turn it over a lot, but many times it looked like he could do whatever he wanted.

Morris deserves some compliments in this game. He really played well offensively and defensively. Let’s hope he keeps it up. I was also happy with PG’s clutch play

[Max Headrom]

It makes no sense to bury reggie jackson because his bubble stretch of games. We need him to play better. We need him to find a rhytym. some of you would have wanted fred van vleet on the bench last year the way he was playing in the early 2 rounds and much of the ECF.

We need to build confidence. They'll probably be more conservative with him but we don't need to can this guy for a rookie.

Talking to brick walls. There's a reason Doc has a ring and more wins than Red Auerbach in the regular season now. He might know a little bit more about coaching than all of us

[playaloc916]

I agree. The bench has to match the defensive intensity. I'm really disappointed in shamet this year. Man, I thought he was going to be great. Maybe he needs to get more muscle mass. The guy is a fly defensively. He's being shooed away. He's not hitting his threes. I wonder if he ever fully recovered from that high ankle sprain.

I've heard from insiders it's a confidence thing with him. Remember how he competed against Curry in the playoffs last year on defense?? Had me hyped and looking forward to him in his second year. I think he'll eventually hit some big shots though. I'll give him a couple of games since he's just coming back from injury but, definitely need more from him.

he probably can't get a good rhytym with the rotation hes playing. He'll get it together eventually.

I didn't really want to say it, but I'm almost getting some Jerome Robinson vibes from him... Has a very promising rookie season, and then regresses the next year... I hope whatever funk he's in, he snaps out of it soon, because it would be huge if we had another reliable 3 point threat.

[NippySudz]

It makes no sense to bury reggie jackson because his bubble stretch of games. We need him to play better. We need him to find a rhytym. some of you would have wanted fred van vleet on the bench last year the way he was playing in the early 2 rounds and much of the ECF.

We need to build confidence. They'll probably be more conservative with him but we don't need to can this guy for a rookie.

Talking to brick walls. There's a reason Doc has a ring and more wins than Red Auerbach in the regular season now. He might know a little bit more about coaching than all of us

I don't think Doc is a great coach but I don't think he's so bad like MTV thinks. I think he's a good enough coach to get the job done. I think what was Lob city's problem is no one bought in. The coach can't control that 100% Not with an alpha like Chris and a dog like Griffin. Griffin was always looking for excuses. He was always a complainer. Kawhi is just shut up, lets play through it. He has more leadership. Chris Paul was a leader but his style was abrasive. They're going to buy in with Kawhi. I just know it.

[esqtvd]

based on how he let jamal crawford do anything he wanted (while blake and cp3 were on the floor no less) i imagine he'll let lou do the same.

Jamal got a bad rap. The Clippers bench was ass. Jamal was the only one who wanted the ball. His teammates loved him.

Same with Lou--who finished plus+3 despite playing so many minutes with minus-19 Shamet, minus-14 J-Myke, and a rusty Trezz.


Major props for Marcus Senior tonight--19 points on 8-13 shooting and a team-high plus+25. HE took the minutes at the 5 tonight to close out the game.

I don't care about the past. Some of you are more clipper lifers than me, I'm more on the bandwagon because Kawhi is my favorite player. That being said, They need Kawhi to be the go-to guy down the stretch. This lou getting his own shot down the stretch or running it through other players is not the business. It's Kawhi and PG. Better Kawhi first because he's a better playmaker. He opens up so much more.

They're going to build on the win. I know it. I was a fan of lob city but not like some of you. I never bought into lob city at all.

The point is that Lou gets the same garbage that Jamal did from people who don't know the game. And besides being a threat to score, Lou is also our assist leader at 5.6 apg. That's how Lou [5 assists] ended up in the plus after being in the minus all game. Doc slipped Reggie in on defense when possible, but Reggie had a crap game, minus-8, 0-5 from the field with only 1 assist.


As for dogging Doc's rotation--there IS NO ROTATION. [Yet.] This was a scramble with limited minutes for Trezz and Pat, and Shamet was such complete garbage you had to yank him after 8 minutes.

Yes, we were sloppy and unfocused but Game 1 of the playoffs is not the time to start screaming and yelling with blood and guts and veins in your teeth. Especially when it's Kawhi's team. Kawhi will send the messages where they need to be sent.

[NippySudz]

I’m happy they were able to pull out this game but I was upset with how easy it looked for Doncic. Yes, he did turn it over a lot, but many times it looked like he could do whatever he wanted.

Morris deserves some compliments in this game. He really played well offensively and defensively. Let’s hope he keeps it up. I was also happy with PG’s clutch play

Morris was a plus +25 he was great. Luka is getting shut down next game. They're going to take pat bev off him like they did in the regular season and let Kawhi, morris and PG handle him. Much of the 42 points is white noise. 11 turnovers. He didn't have a pretty game by any means.

I've heard from insiders it's a confidence thing with him. Remember how he competed against Curry in the playoffs last year on defense?? Had me hyped and looking forward to him in his second year. I think he'll eventually hit some big shots though. I'll give him a couple of games since he's just coming back from injury but, definitely need more from him.

he probably can't get a good rhytym with the rotation hes playing. He'll get it together eventually.

I didn't really want to say it, but I'm almost getting some Jerome Robinson vibes from him... Has a very promising rookie season, and then regresses the next year... I hope whatever funk he's in, he snaps out of it soon, because it would be huge if we had another reliable 3 point threat.

He ain't Jerome bad LOL. He'll do better. He's had some good games in the bubble but the dude needs to be readyoff the bench. He's disappointing this year but its quite an adjustment. He's not that important to the team. If he can keep the lakers honest, the bucks honest than that's enough. He's going to hit big shots. Unlike Jerome, he's been there before. He was great last year. He's performed in the bright lights. He's not scared of the moment, he's just lacking defensively and shooting like ****.

[NippySudz]

Jamal got a bad rap. The Clippers bench was ass. Jamal was the only one who wanted the ball. His teammates loved him.

Same with Lou--who finished plus+3 despite playing so many minutes with minus-19 Shamet, minus-14 J-Myke, and a rusty Trezz.


Major props for Marcus Senior tonight--19 points on 8-13 shooting and a team-high plus+25. HE took the minutes at the 5 tonight to close out the game.

I don't care about the past. Some of you are more clipper lifers than me, I'm more on the bandwagon because Kawhi is my favorite player. That being said, They need Kawhi to be the go-to guy down the stretch. This lou getting his own shot down the stretch or running it through other players is not the business. It's Kawhi and PG. Better Kawhi first because he's a better playmaker. He opens up so much more.

They're going to build on the win. I know it. I was a fan of lob city but not like some of you. I never bought into lob city at all.

The point is that Lou gets the same garbage that Jamal did from people who don't know the game. And besides being a threat to score, Lou is also our assist leader at 5.6 apg. That's how Lou [5 assists] ended up in the plus after being in the minus all game. Doc slipped Reggie in on defense when possible, but Reggie had a crap game, minus-8, 0-5 from the field with only 1 assist.


As for dogging Doc's rotation--there IS NO ROTATION. [Yet.] This was a scramble with limited minutes for Trezz and Pat, and Shamet was such complete garbage you had to yank him after 8 minutes.

Yes, we were sloppy and unfocused but Game 1 of the playoffs is not the time to start screaming and yelling with blood and guts and veins in your teeth. Especially when it's Kawhi's team. Kawhi will send the messages where they need to be sent.

Lou wasn't that bad tonight. in the first half he was but he finished with a +3. My point is we need our key guys to be our key guys down the stretch. It's no knock on lou.But I don't want to see lou force the action while kawhi is on the post. I don't want to see kawhi go a stretch without touching the basketball. I think to win, you need to make him and PG the focus. THey are but I think as the playoffs get deep, the leash on other guys getting their offense off gotta tighten.

I thought the game showed character and poise. They followed guys leadership and didn't unravel. I also think people sayign we should put in a 2nd round draft rookie to guard doncic over reggie is kinda crazy.

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What clint says is becoming true.

[MartinToVaught]

There's a reason Doc has a ring and more wins than Red Auerbach in the regular season now.

Yeah, he's been given a bunch of stacked teams.

There's also a reason he's blown more playoff series leads than any other coach. He's stubborn to a fault and doesn't adjust.

[Kelphus]

Game ball to Morris.
Kawhi and PG13 .. you expect them to score those points.
Pat Bev and Montrezz rusty, Shamet lost out there.
This is a big win against a good team on a night Clips played beneath themselves.
I really think that first 10-0 start was terrible for the team because they took their foot off the gas a bit and let Mavs back in, then momentum shifted.

About Doncic - they remind me of some of the Kobe fLaker teams, or fLakers before AD arrived - you know Kobe or Lebron is going to get 35, but hold everybody else back and you win. I think Dallas tonight loses big had Clippers played hard 48 minutes. Last point - is it me or does Doncic have a sly way of slipping 1/2 step more than allowed without being called for it? There is something about his approach before he puts the ball up that makes him look like he is travelling almost every time. Refs never called it, maybe just me.

[Kelphus]

There's a reason Doc has a ring and more wins than Red Auerbach in the regular season now.

Yeah, he's been given a bunch of stacked teams.

There's also a reason he's blown more playoff series leads than any other coach. He's stubborn to a fault and doesn't adjust.

Your hatred of Doc is just getting boring. If you want others to see his alleged incompetence, please bring specifics not rhetoric. Who knows, maybe you'll convert more of us?

Tonight, you had the full roster for the 12 time this season... except they all weren't 100%. Several players on minute restrictions.

The main thing I saw was that somebody bigger needs to be guarding Doncic, Pat Bev even though a beast just isn't big enough. Is that idiot coaching? I would think you can give us more than that to work on.

[NippySudz]

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[Clemenza]

I've heard from insiders it's a confidence thing with him. Remember how he competed against Curry in the playoffs last year on defense?? Had me hyped and looking forward to him in his second year. I think he'll eventually hit some big shots though. I'll give him a couple of games since he's just coming back from injury but, definitely need more from him.

he probably can't get a good rhytym with the rotation hes playing. He'll get it together eventually.

I didn't really want to say it, but I'm almost getting some Jerome Robinson vibes from him... Has a very promising rookie season, and then regresses the next year... I hope whatever funk he's in, he snaps out of it soon, because it would be huge if we had another reliable 3 point threat.

Its just a different team with Kawhi and PG here now as opposed to last season where there was no pressure on the team whatsoever. I don't know what to make of Shamet right now. Some threes from him would put us over the top easily especially how bad Pat Bev, Reggie Jackson, and at times Lou Will played tonight. Doc probably won't do it but I'd put Mann ahead of Jackson in the rotation. At least he'll go all out on the defensive end and rebound.. and tbh Reggie Jackson is a vet but he really doesn't have that much playoff experience either. And please don't tell me Doc is back to not playing Zu in 4th quarters.. especially now since he's improving, Trez is rusty and out of shape, plus it keeps Luka out of the paint more which means he'll have to resort to taking his long range three attempts. Good games from Kawhi, PG, and Morris.. and Zu when he played.

[NippySudz]

he probably can't get a good rhytym with the rotation hes playing. He'll get it together eventually.

I didn't really want to say it, but I'm almost getting some Jerome Robinson vibes from him... Has a very promising rookie season, and then regresses the next year... I hope whatever funk he's in, he snaps out of it soon, because it would be huge if we had another reliable 3 point threat.

Its just a different team with Kawhi and PG here now as opposed to last season where there was no pressure on the team whatsoever. I don't know what to make of Shamet right now. Some threes from him would put us over the top easily especially how bad Pat Bev, Reggie Jackson, and at times Lou Will played tonight. Doc probably won't do it but I'd put Mann ahead of Jackson in the rotation. At least he'll go all out on the defensive end and rebound.. and tbh Reggie Jackson is a vet but he really doesn't have that much playoff experience either. And please don't tell me Doc is back to not playing Zu in 4th quarters.. especially now since he's improving, Trez is rusty and out of shape, plus it keeps Luka out of the paint more which means he'll have to resort to taking his long range three attempts. Good games from Kawhi, PG, and Morris.. and Zu when he played.

I wouldn't put mann in. He's a rookie. I don't think he's proven he can handle that type of assignment. This isn't the regular season. They're going to be studying this game. Someone like Lebron is going to cook that dude. Reggie just needs to get his **** get together. He's doing a lot of bone head stuff. Hand in the cookie jar dumb type fouls. His rotations suck too. Mann is a SG in college that came to be a PG in the pros as a 2nd rnd draft pick and people expect him to have a significant role. Idk, I don't buy it. I mean its possible but I just don't buy it.

[esqtvd]

I’m happy they were able to pull out this game but I was upset with how easy it looked for Doncic. Yes, he did turn it over a lot, but many times it looked like he could do whatever he wanted.

Morris deserves some compliments in this game. He really played well offensively and defensively. Let’s hope he keeps it up. I was also happy with PG’s clutch play

Morris was a plus +25 he was great. Luka is getting shut down next game. They're going to take pat bev off him like they did in the regular season and let Kawhi, morris and PG handle him. Much of the 42 points is white noise. 11 turnovers. He didn't have a pretty game by any means.

Good way to put it. And his last 10 points or so they just stood aside and let him score a deuce, just no +1s.

11 TOs. He averages 5+ TOs against us, and shoots under 33% from 3. Doc said we blew some weakside rotations tonight, for which Luka made us pay by finding the open man. But we can fix that.

[Shamet] ain't Jerome bad LOL. He'll do better. He's had some good games in the bubble but the dude needs to be readyoff the bench. He's disappointing this year but its quite an adjustment. He's not that important to the team. If he can keep the lakers honest, the bucks honest than that's enough. He's going to hit big shots. Unlike Jerome, he's been there before. He was great last year. He's performed in the bright lights. He's not scared of the moment, he's just lacking defensively and shooting like ****.

Sham hasn't been right physically all year. Missed camp, missed the restart. Sophomore year is hard enough. Doc will try to feed him minutes against Dallas but if he's not right by the second round, I don't see how he sees the court much after that.

Doc shows faith in people, and is frequently rewarded. Marcus Senior has been spotty at best as a Clipper but he was everything we hoped for tonight--even taking minutes at the 5. As Corey "ESL" Maggette put it tonight, "He played defense at both ends!"