RealGM

Clippers might catch a break here



________________________________
LATE ADD: We caught the break

Not that worried about this back to back. I think we can take down the Bucks. The tougher back to back is the next one where we have to travel to Chicago and then down to NOLA. NO is in the same time zone, but 2.5 hours by plane from Chicago. While Minny/Bucks are tougher opponents, the travel is easier.

Bucks have improved lately.

Here's our favorite commentor on Doc Rivers:


Bucks haven't had a "tough" schedule in their wins, beat Minnesota, but then beat Charlotte twice, Sixers and Bulls, so obviously the success and statistics from that have to be taken with a grain of salt, but they have changed some things and look better on defense.

This is a better back to back because the previous game was earlier in the day and this one is in the evening, so there's a little more rest time happening here.

Need Zu to play well tonight especially on D. They are not that good defensively, hopefully PG and Harden both will have a better game tonight.

It's clear to me the Clippers are never going to figure out how to counter against opponent's superstar bigs fairly, so instead they'll need to exploit a weakness with these teams and go old school 1985 low scoring games against them. For the Wolves, it's the 4th quarter during clutch games. No doubt there will be a situation where Clippers can only win with a Sudden Death Shot.

The Bucks is much more complicated. All this time, they've wanted Doc Rivers but his latest 2nd round flounder and subsequent ousting by 76ers tarnished his reputation. So Bucks instead hired Adrian Griffin, with Doc acting as the man behind the man, and when it was time to kick Griffin to the curb, they would instantly "promote" Doc to the head coaching gig. Fear The Dear indeed, when you consider in their last game vs. Bulls, they drew an ejection on Nikola Vucevic. And don't get me started on former Clippers because there is Patrick Beverley and the coach himself.

Since they can't defeat Bucks directly, their approach needs to be shrewd. You want to defeat us with pride and chicanery, we'll defeat you by being mature, disciplined and refined. We are rubber, you are glue, everything you say bounces off of me and goes back to you. You want to draw ejections on us, no - you'll draw ejections to yourselves.

If the Clippers can get Doc Rivers unhinged by playing like the Good Samaritan Spurs, they can beat Bucks without being required to limit the superstar big prowess of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Which is good because the game slows down in the playoffs. OTOH, this shows OKC is not doing it with mirrors.

Half-Court OFFENSE Efficiency
1. OKC—1.08 PPP
2. BOS
3. LAC
4. IND
5. MIL
6. DEN
7. DAL
8. NOP
9. SAC
10. GSW
.
28. SAS
29. POR
30. MEM—0.92

Half-Court DEFENSE Efficiency
1. MIN—0.94
2. CLE
3. OKC
4. LAC
5. BOS
6. NOP
7. ORL
8. DEN
9. HOU
10. PHX
.
28. IND
29. CHA
30. DET—1.06

Clippers have been gifted a free game with Antetokounmpo out. Even though the game will be meaningless, now would be a good time to practice winning (getting to good habits, don't play around for the sake of a highlight reel, don't take your opponent lightly because Antetokounmpo is out, and don't make things harder than it has to be just to get attention). Even a careless loss against Clipper's former coach could be used against them.

Calling it now: Clippers are 40-20, inching ever so slightly toward 1st seed in the west.

With Excuse master set for his Buck's post game before the game even starts, Ty could decide that Kawhi has some tightness and sit him. Nothing to gain now from this game other than a W. Let the bench guys get some major burn and force PG and Harden to step it up tonight offensively.

Obviously no Giannis helps. Buuuut, now it feels like a Bobby Portis 50 piece coming or something.

Get the win and stay healthy.

Missed this earlier….

Not the most encouraging start. Not terrible but doesn’t feel like they’re taking advantage of Giannis out yet.

Don’t let Bev get under your skin.

Bev in full form

Milwaukee coming out with good energy, Clippers making some good plays defensively despite Milwaukee's sitting. Let's see how things progress

Dame for 80 perhaps?

Nice to see Harden get some buckets.

Nice contributions from Bones and Theis off the bench.

Just got home to see Bones scored b2b buckets. Let's go!

playing dumb the last 3 mins

Feels like a game where Leonard could have sat. Feels like he’s just getting some cardio in.

KL2 wrote:Feels like a game where Leonard could have sat. Feels like he’s just getting some cardio in.

Kawhi doing his Kawhi thing. PG and Beard having good games so he's letting 'em roll. Sometimes I think he gets annoyed when he has to bust ass and score 30 for us to win.

I was hoping somebody on Twitter would post this

byooful dime from Zu to PG in the corner--this is a planned play

man we arent really playing smart. Should be a 20 point lead. We are keeping them in the game.

Really dumb fouls. Especially with them in the penalty.

Off night for Kawhi.