RD 1 GAME 5: LAC (2-2) @ DEN (2-2)—TUE 4/29 7 PM, TNT

[esqtvd]

ICYMI, it's like this. The rest is talk.

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[Jay555]

Just win

[Roscoe Sheed]

I see that Silver turned a blind eye to MPJ coming off the bench.

I never liked that rule- cost the Knicks in 97 and the Suns in 07, but aren't rules supposed to be enforced?

[KL2]

I knew MPJ wouldn’t be suspended despite the rules. He wasn’t even fined. You can bet if that was one of our players it would have been enforced though.

I’d love to be proven wrong but I’ve lost confidence in this team winning tonight and the series. The bad habit they formed in the regular season of thinking they can just flip the switch has proven wrong once again when it really matters.

Lue’s lackadaisical attitude has rubbed off on the team. They’ve given all momentum and confidence to the Nuggets. Unless they cough it up I don’t see our guys snatching it. There’s no urgency from the team. They’re treating it like it’s game 45 and not the playoffs.

[Scoundreldays]

Not sure I can watch the game lol, not that I don't have confidence but I don't think my mental state can take the back and forth or a loss. We will see lol

[PeteyPablo]

the only thing that will remove all doubts about this Clippers team , this season and everything else about them - would be to win this series.

a 2 point loss at home , where they could be up 3-1 , but they could not muster up more made free throws or a extra basket or two. Is there some one out there really putting some voodoo on them?

Ty Lue said in the post game interview on Saturday that they can beat this Nuggets team and seemed not too worried about it.

[Roscoe Sheed]

If they lose this series, one would wonder if Lue will be on the hot seat. Seems like they played better with Shaw at the helm or perhaps JVG would like to be a head coach again

[madmaxmedia]

I don't think attaching too much meaning makes sense here. Because honestly we have no idea what is going to happen tonight, and then we're gonna retroactively draw conclusions afterwards about the team as a whole? But I guess that's part of being a Clipper fan, otherwise it hurts too much LOL.

In Game 2, Kawhi went nuclear and we barely won. In Game 4, Jokic went nuclear and they barely won. We had the advantage in the other games, but Denver has home court advantage back. I think it's close to a draw at this point. I could easily see either James or Jamal being the big difference maker tonight. James often has big starts, OTOH Jamal will be ineffectual for 2 /12 quarters and then heat up out of nowhere.

But yeah I think everyone overall feels the same way, that tonight will determine the series. (or maybe it won't....still a 20% chance...)

[madmaxmedia]

If they lose this series, one would wonder if Lue will be on the hot seat. Seems like they played better with Shaw at the helm or perhaps JVG would like to be a head coach again

I don't think so, I mean we are the 5th seed after all to Denver's 4. Had we lost the series with home court advantage, I think there would be greater rumblings. But Ty is sort of like the equivalent of Mike Tomlin of the Steelers (without a Clipper title though LOL), I think they see him as an integral part of the stability of the franchise. I believe he has been, given all the recent roster changes and instability around Kawhi's health.

[KL2]

Interesting.

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If it was one of ours you can bet they would have been suspended.

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[madmaxmedia]

Interesting.

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If it was one of ours you can bet they would have been suspended.

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I've seen video showing how much Dunn contributes defensively to the team as a whole, that I won't be too worried about such stats (even though they are interesting...) He is also always going to take on the toughest assignment possible when he's on the floor, and has played a significant role in trying to make things harder and more congested for Jokic which can detract focus on his own man. But maybe him being perfect is what it will take (along with big games from other guys) for us to take this series.

I don't care if MPJ is suspended or not, but the whole original point of the rule, agree or disagree, is to establish a hard line in the sand regarding conduct. I don't love the rule, but understand also that it's designed to stop players from seeing other benches clear, so then of course they are also going to get up and defend their teammates, etc.

BUT ONCE IT IS SELECTIVELY APPLIED, THAT DEFEATS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THE RULE.

So decide one way or the other. I would love to see another incident (in another playoff matchup) where the one guy now leaves the bench, prompting opposing players to get up, etc. and the NBA is under the microscope of both the rule itself, and the precendent it has established by not suspending MPJ.

[Roscoe Sheed]

I think that it is important to shoot decently tonight. On the road it will be hard to overcome the crowd if Murray, Jokic, and MPJ get going unless you able to break the momentum with some shots of your own.

[KL2]

This is really encouraging.

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[MartinToVaught]

the only thing that will remove all doubts about this Clippers team , this season and everything else about them - would be to win this series.

Well, no, what would have removed all doubt is if they had put this banged-up, dysfunctional Nuggets team away in 5. Instead they did what they always do in the playoffs: made it 1000x harder than it ever needed to be, let Denver hang around and give them new life/confidence, and now even if they still barely scrape out a series win, they'll be too exhausted to compete with OKC next round anyway. Win or lose, they have already reinforced why everyone doubts the Clippers come playoff time.

[KL2]

This start lol.

This team is not serious. Our guys are regressing while Denver players are picking it up.

I’d be happy with a loss if it meant changes were coming but I’ll be the same stuff different game.

[neshy]

Harden totally lost on D

[og15]

What a flat start, but lots of game left, don't get too high or too low J's always key

[Jay555]

change things up. Dunn should not start.. No spacing with him.

[KL2]

Leonard has the worst whistle it’s insane.

Awful we have to use a challenge there.

Rebound ffs.

Powell building a brick house.

Simmons airballing a hook shot.

[Jay555]

Not winning this one.

Denver gets all the calls.