Game #73: OKC @ Clippers Tuesday 3/21 7:30PM

esqtvd · Post #1 » by **esqtvd** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 11:04 am

A bizarre 2-game series
OKC also face off @ Clippers again on Thursday

NickP · Post #2 » by **NickP** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 1:46 pm

Yes, we can win if our role players show up and help Morris, the backbone of this team. There's only this much carrying the poor guy can do.

clipperlover · Post #3 » by **clipperlover** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 4:29 pm

NickP wrote:Yes, we can win if our role players show up and help Morris, the backbone of this team. There's only this much carrying the poor guy can do.

I know. Did you see that sequence vs the Blazers where his back gave out and he crashed to the floor trying to drive? Truly said that he has to carry the load of this team on his shoulders like that.

NickP · Post #4 » by **NickP** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 5:02 pm

clipperlover wrote:
NickP wrote:Yes, we can win if our role players show up and help Morris, the backbone of this team. There's only this much carrying the poor guy can do.

I know. Did you see that sequence vs the Blazers where his back gave out and he crashed to the floor trying to drive? Truly said that he has to carry the load of this team on his shoulders like that.

Lol.

Cyclips · Post #5 » by **Cyclips** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 5:14 pm

NickP wrote:
clipperlover wrote:
NickP wrote:Yes, we can win if our role players show up and help Morris, the backbone of this team. There's only this much carrying the poor guy can do.

I know. Did you see that sequence vs the Blazers where his back gave out and he crashed to the floor trying to drive? Truly said that he has to carry the load of this team on his shoulders like that.

Lol.

Yep, and Marcus being the ultimate warrior that he is, leaped right off the canvas to dash back down the court and create yet another take-away. Morris, who will lead the Clippers into two tough battles with OKC this week, said after the game "I broke my ankle on that diving play and tore my ACL on the next one, but I'll be ready on Tuesday to carry this team yet again".

Roscoe Sheed · Post #6 » by **Roscoe Sheed** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 5:42 pm

esqtvd wrote:A bizarre 2-game series
OKC also face off on Thursday @ Clippers again on Thursday

Read on Twitter

clippers are 38-34

Scoundreldays · Post #7 » by **Scoundreldays** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 7:21 pm

Let's break our losing curse against the Thunder

Dynamix · Post #8 » by **Dynamix** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 7:23 pm

Despite having Kawhi available, I find myself pretty worried about these next two games, to the point that splitting them seems like a decent outcome. Winning them both would mean we're actually serious about getting that 4th seed. Losing them... let's try to stay positive.

I'm also curious about what adjustments, if any, will be made from one game to the next, since this is as close to a playoff scenario as you can get before the actual thing.

Now give me at least 20 minutes of Shai vs Mann.

Clemenza · Post #9 » by **Clemenza** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 7:34 pm

SGA will get his 30 but we should prevail. We survived the Curry onslaught last week so we should be prepared for anything

The High Cyde · Post #10 » by **The High Cyde** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 7:48 pm

Crazy how fast the Thunder became so good, Presti put together a roster full of young guns that look hungry to prove themselves and play hard. These two games we’ll need that vet savviness we have to try to get the wins. But yeah it wouldn’t surprise me if we drop both, unfortunately.

Wammy Giveaway · Post #11 » by **Wammy Giveaway** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:55 pm

The greatest motivation Clippers have for tonight: they do not want to punch another playoff ticket for a lottery team. Already they ensured the Pacific Division, the breaking of a playoff drought, and a title contender in the Kings from Sacramento.

Losing to the Thunder has the same effect. But it's more than just ensuring them a spot in either the playoffs or qualifier. Some weeks ago, I iterated that a season series loss to OKC will instantly declare the Thunder the winner in the Paul George trade, especially if George were to get ejected from a game. Other ways for Clippers to concede in the trade is being defeated personally by Thunder in a playoff series, or if Clippers blow up the team by trading George, Leonard or both following a failure to win the title. As it is, only a championship can validate their side of the deal but it's not looking good at the moment. Preventing Thunder from winning three in a row for a season series loss this season will buy them some time.

Ballings7 · Post #12 » by **Ballings7** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 9:02 pm

Gonna be a fun week.

Clips should win both.. OKC is a neat young team with some talent, but they are over-hyped as a dangerous team by Media.

Losing both would be unacceptable and bad. Winning one would be, fine, but not up to Clips capabilities.

I think the group over the last 5-6 games will be a bit too much in both games for OKC.

Clips in TWO! That's where i'm at.

Wammy Giveaway · Post #13 » by **Wammy Giveaway** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 9:08 pm

Ballings7 wrote:Losing both would be unacceptable and bad. Winning one would be, fine, but not up to Clips capabilities.

It's all or nothing. Lucas Hann spells out why:

Read on Twitter

clipperlover · Post #14 » by **clipperlover** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 10:05 pm

Wammy Giveaway wrote:The greatest motivation Clippers have for tonight: they do not want to punch another playoff ticket for a lottery team. Already they ensured the Pacific Division, the breaking of a playoff drought, and a title contender in the Kings from Sacramento.

Losing to the Thunder has the same effect. But it's more than just ensuring them a spot in either the playoffs or qualifier. Some weeks ago, I iterated that a season series loss to OKC will instantly declare the Thunder the winner in the Paul George trade, especially if George were to get ejected from a game. Other ways for Clippers to concede in the trade is being defeated personally by Thunder in a playoff series, or if Clippers blow up the team by trading George, Leonard or both following a failure to win the title. As it is, only a championship can validate their side of the deal but it's not looking good at the moment. Preventing Thunder from winning three in a row for a season series loss this season will buy them some time.

No it won't. Clips could get swept by the Thunder in the regular season. We made the trade for the Post Season. We had the Covid year that screwed up the 1st season and then the Kawhi's ACL tear in 2021 that impacted 2021 and 2022 (still made the WC Finals in 2021 and still could have made the Finals without Kawhi if Zu hadn't gotten hurt.

Clippers run the board this year and make the Finals and it was worth it. Clips will have tens of millions coming off the cap before all those draft picks are in OKC. Intuit Dome opening will make the team a destination. In order for OKC to win the trade, they need to accomplish more than the Clips. To date, that has not happened.

Could they win the trade over time? Sure. Is OKC going to make it farther in the playoffs than the Clips over the next few years? Doubtful.

clipperlover · Post #15 » by **clipperlover** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 10:11 pm

The one stat that seems to hold up fairly well is Road record. OKC is 13-21 on the road. I expect the team to be locked in until the Portland game. Hopefully, they can put enough distance between themselves and Phoenix to rest those last 2 games.

Post #16 » by **og15** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 10:58 pm

The High Cyde wrote:Crazy how fast the Thunder became so good, Presti put together a roster full of young guns that look hungry to prove themselves and play hard. These two games we’ll need that vet savviness we have to try to get the wins. But yeah it wouldn’t surprise me if we drop both, unfortunately.

They are also 5-6 without SGA, so even when he doesn't play, they compete quite well.

esqtvd · Post #17 » by **esqtvd** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 12:15 am

relax, it's in the bag

Read on Twitter

NickP · Post #18 » by **NickP** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 12:56 am

I feel good about the next 2 games. This team has to start playing like they belong in the playoffs and are a better team than the thunder, which they are.

LamarWho · Post #19 » by **LamarWho** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 2:17 am

Ballings7 wrote:Gonna be a fun week.

Clips should win both.. OKC is a neat young team with some talent, but they are over-hyped as a dangerous team by Media.

Losing both would be unacceptable and bad. Winning one would be, fine, but not up to Clips capabilities.

I think the group over the last 5-6 games will be a bit too much in both games for OKC.

Clips in TWO! That's where i'm at.

We all know how these "we should win" type of games usually end up.

Scoundreldays · Post #20 » by **Scoundreldays** » Wed Mar 22, 2023 2:25 am

esqtvd wrote:relax, it's in the bag

Read on Twitter

THANK YOU KYRIE!