GAME #59: LAC (38-20) @ T-PUPS (42-18)—SUN 3/3 12:30 PM, CHANNEL 5

[Max Headrom]

A win's a win, but this isn't one I'm walking away from thinking we have a great chance against them in a playoff series. It was an ugly game all around and at times it felt more like they were playing down to our level.

Hell no, Minny isn't good during crunch time late in 4th quarters period, especially Kat & Edwards. We're not a 12th place team either so there's no playing down to our level. This is how the playoffs are going to be.. a grind it out affair with little to no fast breaks.

Why did you even bother responding to the "down to our level" when the Clippers are only a game back from Minny now

[Roscoe Sheed]

A win's a win, but this isn't one I'm walking away from thinking we have a great chance against them in a playoff series. It was an ugly game all around and at times it felt more like they were playing down to our level.

can't put too much stock in any game- but their defense looked very good and if PG and Harden even had average games they would have won by 10 or more

[NickP]

A win's a win, but this isn't one I'm walking away from thinking we have a great chance against them in a playoff series. It was an ugly game all around and at times it felt more like they were playing down to our level.

So a 42 win team playing down to the level of a 39 win team? I know we've been pretty bad lately but in the words of the best president, Come on man!

[Dynamix]

Nice or ugly, need to keep notching up wins and secure that top 4 seed, hopefully being able to rest up in the last few games and get to the playoffs fully healthy. That's all I care about right now.

H2H records are only good for tiebreaking purposes in this very competitive West.

We were 4-0 against the Lakers last season. Would anyone have felt comfortable playing them in the first round, even with Kawhi and PG healthy?

Or a more recent example, let's say the Kings managed to sweep the Nuggets, even shutting them out of Phil Jackson's 40-before-20 contender status. Would they have been favorites if the two teams met in the playoffs?

The Wolves are tough defensively, have size, some youth (compared to us at least), an offensive superstar or two, but also several of their own issues. The previous game was certainly deflating with how they shut us down inside, but the first (where Norm almost led a comeback) and this one felt like players just missed too many shots. So I'm as worried about them as any other potential opponent, even the current play-in teams.

I really can't emphasize enough how much I want us to stay healthy above all else. Norm looking like he hurt himself after the windmill dunk, Kawhi walking gingerly after some random contact, Russ breaking his hand on a reach in you've seen a million times, Zu no longer being an iron man, PG saying he's been dealing with knee issues for the entire season... This is what worries me the most right now. Can't even be mad about Harden's poor shooting nights, at least he's always been there running the offense.

Anyway, looking forward to some productive conversations about Doc over the next day or so.

[Scoundreldays]

Also impressed with Bones on the defensive end. He held his own

[og15]

A win's a win, but this isn't one I'm walking away from thinking we have a great chance against them in a playoff series. It was an ugly game all around and at times it felt more like they were playing down to our level.

So a 42 win team playing down to the level of a 39 win team? I know we've been pretty bad lately but in the words of the best president, Come on man!

Sometimes when a team "plays down to a level", it's actually that the other team is doing something to throw them off and make it happen. In this case though, these were two teams between two loses of each other, there's no playing down to anyone's level lol

Being able to slug out wins is an important skill for a team because in the playoffs those types of wins are going to be important, no one's shot always fall.

This is a game that reminds people that teams win. The starters were not positive, but the bench unit won their minutes handily, and that is the difference between winning and losing. It's why teams in the playoffs win based on the strength of their top 7-8, not just the starters.

[Ballings7]

Great win.. need these kinds of games here and there

Much needed.

This game is how some playoff games will go.. down to 2 or 3 guys offensively, and everyone else chipping in variously and partially, etc. Playing a role and not getting down on their scoring.

And, is an example of why Harden can have such a Harden downer of a game scoring wise, and more often than not still make an impact.


Theis with 13 boards off the bench against a big frontline.

Kawhi played big-time just like this team needed.

[esqtvd]

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And is an example of why Harden can have such a Harden downer of a game scoring wise, and more often than not still make an impact.

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[jengmann3]

A win's a win, but this isn't one I'm walking away from thinking we have a great chance against them in a playoff series. It was an ugly game all around and at times it felt more like they were playing down to our level.

can't put too much stock in any game- but their defense looked very good and if PG and Harden even had average games they would have won by 10 or more

Pretty much this. Also I feel like there was a bit of a narrative that Minnesota has the wings and defense to slow down Kawhi. Also Gobert had a couple blocks on him in the earlier meetings and ppl made it seem like he was an issue as well. Minnesota is great defensively and Gobert does impact the game, but I thought Kawhi was pretty much in rhythm after the first quarter. So I thought that was a good sign. I also thought Theis played well. I know he missed some shots and stumbled out of bounce late but he had 13 rebounds and I distinctly remember a pretty big tip out to Kawhi. I think Lue has to chill with the pulling him in and out of the rotation.

It was a solid win. I am kinda hoping for the 2 seed and that Denver ends up the one seed. Obviously no easy rounds, but to have the rematch in the WCF, with Denver having a bit more pressure with homecourt would be fun.

[madmaxmedia]

I completely missed the early start and only got the notification after the end. Against Minnesota, a win is absolutely a win is absolutely a win!

[nickhx2]

same

[esqtvd]

I completely missed the early start and only got the notification after the end. Against Minnesota, a win is absolutely a win is absolutely a win!

well I try to give you guys 24 hours warning

GAME #60: LAC (39-20) @ BUCKS (40-21)—MON 3/4 5PM, NBA-TV

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=2362102

[clipperlover]

A win's a win, but this isn't one I'm walking away from thinking we have a great chance against them in a playoff series. It was an ugly game all around and at times it felt more like they were playing down to our level.

So, you are committing that Minny WILL beat us in a playoff series?

[Captain Ballmer]

Good win. I wasn't expecting Minny to fumble this game after that start. Our D was great but man this Minny team is not tested at all. I think the same with OKC too. They are not tested so their record in regular season doesn't scare me much. Denver still the best team by far.

[clipperlover]

A win's a win, but this isn't one I'm walking away from thinking we have a great chance against them in a playoff series. It was an ugly game all around and at times it felt more like they were playing down to our level.

So a 42 win team playing down to the level of a 39 win team? I know we've been pretty bad lately but in the words of the best president, Come on man!

I thought the "Come on man!" line was attributed to the party figurehead that gets lost regularly mid speech and has a deer in the headlights look to him. I didn't know there was an actual best president that said that line.

[clipperlover]

Minny scored 30 pts in the 1st Quarter and 58 the rest of the way. I would say that either we finally locked in defensively, Minny is a terrible offensive team when challenged or both.

We now control our own destiny with them and Denver. Minny still has to play Denver 3 times before the end of the season.

[og15]

Minny scored 30 pts in the 1st Quarter and 58 the rest of the way. I would say that either we finally locked in defensively, Minny is a terrible offensive team when challenged or both.

We now control our own destiny with them and Denver. Minny still has to play Denver 3 times before the end of the season.

...and Denver still has to play Minny three times before the end of the season

They match up well against each other, but that's at least 2 additional losses to one of those teams.

[NickP]

A win's a win, but this isn't one I'm walking away from thinking we have a great chance against them in a playoff series. It was an ugly game all around and at times it felt more like they were playing down to our level.

So a 42 win team playing down to the level of a 39 win team? I know we've been pretty bad lately but in the words of the best president, Come on man!

I thought the "Come on man!" line was attributed to the party figurehead that gets lost regularly mid speech and has a deer in the headlights look to him. I didn't know there was an actual best president that said that line.

My apologies. I should have used best in quotes. "Best" president.

[Dynamix]

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[og15]

Good question. Powell has the worst plus/minus on the Clippers over the last 10 games, and not counting G-Leaguers, Bones has the worst on the season [except for Tucker].

https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional?PerMode=Per100Possessions&TeamID=1610612746&dir=A&sort=PLUS_MINUS

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This, again, goes back to PG on defense ... when he's out there, we're simply much better guarding the perimeter. With him, Powell and (when/if he plays) Bones are scorers and passers, and are much more likely to guarding players their own size. They can *focus* on scoring and passing. Take Paul Geroge out, and Norm and Bones move up in rotations and have to guard bigger players, and that hurts them--and us--on both sides.

PG's offense has needed to improve, of course we have to factor in injury into the situation. What we can miss when his offense isn't up to par is the his defense has been consistent and highly impactful all season. Of course defense is never as sexy as offense and the little details of defensive play and impact outside of something like 1v1 defense doesn't get noticed or acknowledged, but it's definitely been very important and will be if this team is to make noise in the playoffs.