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Previews and a roundtable coming your way...

213 Hoops: Clippers vs. Suns Series Preview by Lucas Hann

213 Hoops Series Roundtable (Adam Ausland, Charles Mockler, Ralston Dacanay, Niels Pineda, Lucas Hann, Robert Flom, Randi Geffner, Cole Huff, Shapan Debnath)

My Takes
- Clippers have never drawn an ejection on an opponent ever since Tyronn Lue took over as coach; the team is just too Spursian to commit to shady business. The irony is, despite not having many ejections themselves, Clippers are more likely to see their players tossed before their opponents. Adding insult to injury to that irony is their tough guy Marcus Morris, who hasn't been really doing the tough thing lately. Someone else on their roster will have to pick up the tough slack, and that guy might be Terance Mann. Mann is gonna need to be an All-Star for a series, two, three, or perhaps throughout the entire playoffs. He'll have to play as if he wants the Magic Johnson MVP (the equivalent of an All-Star selection) or the Finals MVP (bonafide superstar status).

- Nobody is talking about Chris Paul, and that could be the greatest thing to these Suns. By making it all about Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, Paul becomes Phoenix's secret weapon. Already he knows the Clippers in and out, he played for them, he made the Finals over them, he is the Sun's psychological edge over Clippers. Last year, he didn't get the Clippers at all, and he ended up losing in embarrassing fashion to the Mavericks - now with the Clippers back in his playoff life, he can easily sniff a Finals return. If the Clippers want to avoid from being a punching bag and lifesaver to their former savior, they must face their fears by defeating CP3, even if it kills them.

- We know the Clippers will go down 2-0. When they're one game away from 3-0, a lead in which no team in NBA history has ever come back from in a playoff series, they will play like heck. The fan base has not been kind to Tyronn Lue's preference for playing possum, made even more alarming with the signing of Russell Westbrook. There are now rumors of the Clippers considering letting go of Lue, Lawrence Frank, and Paul George. The Leonard-George era is literally on the line, with George not coming back for the whole 1st round unless they can eliminate the Suns without him. Clippers are playing with fear in their eyes - blink, and it's off to see the rebuild, the wonderful rebuild of Balls.

- There is one glimmer of hope though. Thanks to basketball media unanimously favoring the Suns, they have sealed Phoenix's fate. Remember in the 2015 NBA Playoffs where everyone picked the Spurs to win their 1st round matchup versus Clippers, just because they were defending champions? Out of the entire list of media members, only one person picked the Clippers to win, Tas Melas of No Dunks. That one apple would end up spoiling the whole bunch as Clippers delivered a positively dramatic 7-game series to dethrone San Antonio. Clippers do much better as an underdog anyway, but sometimes it usually begins with a hiccup from the opposition. Those who fail to remember the past are doomed to repeat it. History could be repeating itself. Clippers could pull off an upset regardless of the series outcome (down 2-0 or 3-1), and it may all be thanks to hubris.

I come in peace. Please go easy on the Suns we have some old fragile players who can break at any moment. Let’s have a clean game and see what happens. Good luck!

I come in peace. Please go easy on the Suns we have some old fragile players who can break at any moment. Let’s have a clean game and see what happens. Good luck!

Leonard and Powell need to have big games for the Clippers to have a chance at winning today.

The three-headed black hole at power forward of MMSr/Batum/Covington need to provide more than their usual 4 points 2 rebounds combined per game as well. That isn't going to cut it. Gotta step up.

Bobbymcgee wrote:Leonard and Powell need to have big games for the Clippers to have a chance at winning today.

The three-headed black hole at power forward of MMSr/Batum/Covington need to provide more than their usual 4 points 2 rebounds combined per game as well. That isn't going to cut it. Gotta step up.

Over the last 8 games, Batum is our #1 in plus/minus. He's fine as the "little things" glue guy, but he just can't take the big minutes more than one game in a row. But if we're in sight of stealing this one, I think Ty will play him 30 or more minutes and worry about Game 2 when it comes.

Mann and Gordon have been useful splitting the minutes left by the absences of PG and Mook [about 23 mpg each], and will continue to get them if they can keep holding the fort. But we're giving away a lot of size. It's a worry, especially with Norman and Plumlee bleeding points [both minus-2+ per game] even though Norman is averaging 20 over those 8 games. We'll be lucky to play their starters even, so if the bench can't make any headway I dunno how we pull this off.

That leaves Westbrook...

Morris is going to be playing. Now why are we worried about not winning?

Game day baby. Let's just get 1 of the next 2 atleast

Power of positive thinking we’re definitely gonna get one of these!
If we’re hitting our 3’s we absolutely can win. Strong D and minimal turnovers too

After seeing the Galaxy lose, need the Clips to come out swinging here. Let's get it done boys!

Playoff... EJ?

Looking good so far, let’s keep it up

We need to keep mucking this game up, can't get into a track meet

Exactly the type of start needed, but this is the NBA and if you are shooting 56% to the opponents 37%, that can easily switch the next quarter, so of course Clippers need to take care of the ball, maximize posessions and make things as uncomfortable for Phoenix as possible.

Wow. Great first quarter! 12 points up going into 2d. If we made our free throws we'd be up by at least 14 or more.

Kelphus wrote:Wow. Great first quarter! 12 points up going into 2d. If we made our free throws we'd be up by at least 14 or more.

We could get up by even more than that if Russ stops pressing, relaxes and plays his game. Everything else looks good so far, that's really the X-factor for me.

I love Biyombo FT's

We look great!

CP3 is already starting with his antics. Every time I watch him play now, it just makes me even more relieved that we don't have to cheer for him anymore.