Game 62: Los Angeles Clippers (42-19) @ Houston Rockets (39-21) - 8:00 PM ET

ducler · Post #1 » by **ducler** » Thu Mar 5, 2020 12:36 pm

Read on Twitter

Clippers2020 · Post #2 » by **Clippers2020** » Thu Mar 5, 2020 1:40 pm

Harden vs. Anti-Harden.

Dynamix · Post #3 » by **Dynamix** » Thu Mar 5, 2020 4:32 pm

Based on a meme and this (slightly edited) IG post by Tucker himself:

But seriously, I'm very curious how Trez will do against them on both ends with no Capela to deal with. Hopefully his ankle is ok.

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SK21209 · Post #4 » by **SK21209** » Thu Mar 5, 2020 5:30 pm

Win this one and I think we basically ensure we finish ahead of the Rockets. We'd be 3.5 games up and tie the season series at 2-2, with the next tiebreaker being conference record (think). They'd have 17 losses in the West to our 13.

Young Sterling · Post #5 » by **Young Sterling** » Thu Mar 5, 2020 7:37 pm

My god Dynamix... My eyes!!! :noway:

I hope we beat the rockets today with our small ball. I literally don't know why J. Green and Morris don't play together more for their small ball lineup, but I was reading a quote by Doc yesterday where he acknowledged that they haven't had to employ their small ball 5 out lineup much so far, but that it will be used situationally. I think today is that day. :nod:

Wammy Giveaway · Post #6 » by **Wammy Giveaway** » Thu Mar 5, 2020 7:38 pm

Clippers will do everything in their power to prevent losing the season series. If the Rockets win, they will have the Clipper's number, meaning once they meet in the playoffs... it's an automatic elimination.

I have a theory about regular season series wins and playoff eliminations. Teams who win the season series and draw the opponent they won the series against in the playoffs in the same year automatically advance to the next round regardless of results. Even if the losing team were to force a Game 7, the winner of the season series always gets the edge. If you're the Clippers, you have the worst luck of all. Have a look at this chart:

Code: Select all

Opponent        Record        Meeting         Result
-----------------------------------------------------------
Grizzlies '12   W 2-1         1st Round       Win
Spurs '12       L 1-2         2nd Round       Loss (Sweep)
Grizzlies '13   W 3-1         1st Round       Loss (Game 6)
Warriors '14    T 2-2         1st Round       Win
Thunder '14     T 2-2         2nd Round       Loss (Game 6)
Spurs '15       T 2-2         1st Round       Win
Rockets '15     T 2-2         2nd Round       Loss (3-1 Collapse)
Blazers '16     W 3-1         1st Round       Loss (Game 6)
Jazz '17        W 3-1         1st Round       Loss (Game 7)
Warriors '19    L 3-1         1st Round       Loss (Game 6)

The Clippers have won season series against the Grizzlies twice, Blazers and Jazz. Their only lone win in this condition can be summed up as a "honeymoon period" (or the 27-point comeback in Game 1 that served as a shield). After that, it's loss after loss after loss.

They've had "better luck" when tied, but only in the 1st round. Their cause is also helped by external motivation: the Donald Sterling scandal vs. Warriors (and underestimating them in 2012-13), and the overwhelming odds to Spurs because of the defending champion factor. Something catastrophic always happens in the 2nd round, however, they have no excuse for the 3-1 collapse. Their only excuse should be admitting they didn't take competition seriously and letting up because of having a 3-1 lead.

In the two times they've lost the season series in the regular season, they've lost in the playoffs. They have yet to win a series when faced with this adversity.

Somebody's going to ask me, "Why compare the Spursian Clippers to the Lob City era?" Well, it's all we have. The Braves era happened in the Eastern Conference in the 1970's. All of the L.A. Sports Arena playoff games were 1st round exits, and horrible. Brand-Cassell was a one-hit wonder. The Paul era is the only ripe source of playoff information, not necessarily for its 6-year playoff streak, but for all the mistakes they've made as playoff competitors. Not taking teams seriously, choking in the most inopportune of moments, letting personal emotions and attachments get in the way of business. The Spursian Clippers will be the opposite of that, starting with former Spur Kawhi Leonard and the Midas touch of Jerry West. Will this Clipper team be light years ahead of the Lob City era where they take care of business, or be like the Clippers of old who are haunted by even the slightest of decisions.

BenchOnaQUEST · Post #7 » by **BenchOnaQUEST** » Thu Mar 5, 2020 9:26 pm

Very important game. The Rockets lost to the Knicks, and narrowly beat the Celtics after OT. We need this win!!

Clippers2020 · Post #8 » by **Clippers2020** » Thu Mar 5, 2020 9:31 pm

Wammy Giveaway wrote: If the Rockets win, they will have the Clipper's number, meaning once they meet in the playoffs... it's an automatic elimination.

Except for the fact Harden's fg%, free-throw attempts and clutchness all decline considerably in the playoffs, while Kawhi becomes the best player in the world....
I don't think anyone can objectively expect a team led by Harden to beat a team led by Kawhi in the playoffs.
On top of that, Westbrook is the biggest failure in NBA playoff history, in his last 4 years shooting .360, .398, .388, .405 from the field!
TWO gigantic losers on the same team :lol:

BenchOnaQUEST · Post #9 » by **BenchOnaQUEST** » Thu Mar 5, 2020 11:58 pm

Clippers2020 wrote:
Wammy Giveaway wrote: If the Rockets win, they will have the Clipper's number, meaning once they meet in the playoffs... it's an automatic elimination.

Except for the fact Harden's fg%, free-throw attempts and clutchness all decline considerably in the playoffs, while Kawhi becomes the best player in the world....
I don't think anyone can objectively expect a team led by Harden to beat a team led by Kawhi in the playoffs.
On top of that, Westbrook is the biggest failure in NBA playoff history, in his last 4 years shooting .360, .398, .388, .405 from the field!
TWO gigantic losers on the same team

Yeah, I agree. Regular Season and Playoffs are totally different.

MartinToVaught · Post #10 » by **MartinToVaught** » Fri Mar 6, 2020 1:30 am

Nice start so far, defense has been about as good as you can hope for against these guys. Hope they can keep it up.

TheNewEra · Post #11 » by **TheNewEra** » Fri Mar 6, 2020 1:32 am

So far so good have to brace for the Rockets run

TheNewEra · Post #12 » by **TheNewEra** » Fri Mar 6, 2020 1:35 am

Zu was trying not to foul when he usually would block that layup. Harrell gets a bucket fast let’s stay on their necks

Quake Griffin · Post #13 » by **Quake Griffin** » Fri Mar 6, 2020 1:37 am

Geoff Green hitting threes eh

TheNewEra · Post #14 » by **TheNewEra** » Fri Mar 6, 2020 1:47 am

Harrell locked in focused. Great defense by Reggie and passing by Jam

TheNewEra · Post #15 » by **TheNewEra** » Fri Mar 6, 2020 2:03 am

Webber crazy

50CalClips · Post #16 » by **50CalClips** » Fri Mar 6, 2020 2:07 am

Random Question: Do you see Kawhi ever winning a Regular Season MVP Award?

NippySudz · Post #17 » by **NippySudz** » Fri Mar 6, 2020 2:07 am

MartinToVaught wrote:Nice start so far, defense has been about as good as you can hope for against these guys. Hope they can keep it up.

Remember when you said doc rivers is a worse coach than d'antoni?

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NippySudz · Post #18 » by **NippySudz** » Fri Mar 6, 2020 2:08 am

50CalClips wrote:Random Question: Do you see Kawhi ever winning a Regular Season MVP Award?

No, doesn't play enough games and he says he doesn't care about it

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50CalClips · Post #19 » by **50CalClips** » Fri Mar 6, 2020 2:08 am

TheNewEra wrote:Webber crazy

What say him

MartinToVaught · Post #20 » by **MartinToVaught** » Fri Mar 6, 2020 2:09 am

NippySudz wrote:
MartinToVaught wrote:Nice start so far, defense has been about as good as you can hope for against these guys. Hope they can keep it up.
Remember when you said doc rivers is a worse coach than d'antoni?

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In fairness, Morey did D'Antoni no favors by suddenly deciding that the Rockets don't need a big man anymore.