Game 66: Los Angeles (40-25) vs New York (34-30)

[mkwest]

Los Angeles Clippers VS New York Knicks
Where: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
When: Wednesday, April 25th, 2012
TV: / ESPN
Radio: KFWB 980AM



PG: #12 - Eric Bledsoe SG: #4 - Randy Foye

SF: #5 - Caron Butler PF: #32 - Blake Griffin

C: #6 - DeAndre Jordan

Reserves

Paul | Williams | Young | Simmons | Martin


Injury Report:

Chris Paul (Mild Left Groin Strain) is available, but will not start.
Chauncey Billups (Left Achilles) is out.



PG: #85 - Baron Davis SG: #21 - Iman Shumpert

SF: #7 - Carmelo Anthony PF: #1 Amar'e Stoudemire

C: #6 - Tyson Chandler


Reserves

Bibby | Smith | Fields | Novak | Harrelson


Injury Report:

Jared Jeffries (Sore Right Knee) and Jeremy Lin (Left Knee) are out.


Team Leaders and Statistics



Blake Griffin - 20.6 Points and 10.9 Rebounds (5th)

Chris Paul - 9.1 Assists (3rd) and 2.5 Steals (1st)

DeAndre Jordan - 2.1 Blocks (4th)

Team Performance
97.6 Points Per Game - 14th Overall
41.6 Rebounds Per Game - 22nd Overall
12.2 Offensive Rebounds Per Game - 8th Overall
10.9 Offensive Rebounds (Opp.) Per Game - 6th Overall
21.0 Assists Per Game - 13th Overall
94.9 Points Allowed - 13th Overall
13.3 Turnovers Per Game - 2nd Overall
14.7 Turnovers (Opp.) Per Game - 14th Overall
35.5% on 3 point field goals - 12th Overall
36.5% allowed on 3 point field goals - 27th Overall
Offensive Rating: 108.5 Points Scored Per 100 Possessions - 4th Overall
Defensive Rating: 105.3 Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions - 15th Overall
Pace: 89.2 possession per 48 Minutes - 26th Overall



Carmelo Anthony - 22.7 Points (6th)

Tyson Chandler - 10.0 Rebounds (8th) and 1.4 Blocks

Jeremy Lin - 6.2 Assists

Iman Shumpert - 1.7 Steals

Team Performance
97.7 Points Per Game - 13th Overall
41.9 Rebounds Per Game - 17th Overall
11.4 Offensive Rebounds Per Game - 15th Overall
10.9 Offensive Rebounds (Opp.) Per Game - 8th Overall
19.6 Assists Per Game - 24th Overall
94.8 Points Allowed - 12th Overall
16.2 Turnovers Per Game - 29th Overall
17.1 Turnovers (Opp.) Per Game - 2nd Overall
33.5% on 3 point field goals - 21st Overall
35.7% allowed on 3 point field goals - 23rd Overall
Offensive Rating: 104.1 Points Scored Per 100 Possessions - 19th Overall
Defensive Rating: 101.0 Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions - 5th Overall
Pace: 93.3 possession per 48 Minutes - 4th Overall

The final game of the season is finally here and the Clippers actually have a vested interest in playing hard and trying to win the game. Usually around this time, the front office and fans are scouting players that are eligible to be drafted with one of the 14 lottery picks, and the coaches are giving time to the younger players to build their confidence. We do not have an upcoming pick in the draft as a result of trading for Eric Bledsoe, and that pick is closer to the end of the draft than it is to the lottery. Travis Leslie is still not getting any burn outside of the D-League (th Jam were eliminated over the weekend) and Trey Thompkins gets a few garbage minutes here and there.

The stakes are high and this game is as meaningful as can be at this point of the season. A win locks up the 4th spot and home court advantage for the first round of the playoffs. The players will be able to rest a few days and mentally prepare for the playoffs that will begin on Saturday. A loss means that the Clippers will fly back home on Wednesday night without knowing where they will be playing this weekend. Will it be home in Los Angeles or on the road in Memphis? The team will have a few days off, but would have to watch Memphis' finale against an injury-riddled Orlando team to truly know their fate. The solution? In the words of the late great Al Davis, "just win baby!"

The New York Knicks are currently in the 7th spot, but are deadlocked with the Philadelphia 76ers. After free-falling down the ranks, the 76ers have pulled off 3 in a row. Having lost the tiebreaker to Orlando, Philadelphia is stuck with one of the final 2 spots and a 1st round opponent of either Chicago or Miami. The Knicks own the tiebreaker over Orlando, so they could theoretically still be in play for the 6th seed and the opportunity to duke it out with an old foe in the Indiana Pacers. They would have to win out and Orlando would need to lose their final 2 games, one of which would be to Charlotte . Chicago with a gimpy Rose is a more attractive opponent than Miami, but Indiana is more attractive than both. The Knicks will want this one imo.

mkwest's game thread record: 10 - 6

[mike3]

Really hope CP3 is ok for this one. Obviously home court advantage will help a lot and I'm sure all our guys will feel a lot more confident winning this one and going into the playoffs from a win and feeling good. C'mon Clips!

[Sofia]

Do yourselves a favour and don't read the Knicks version of this thread.

[LOJ]

Do yourselves a favour and don't read the Knicks version of this thread.

Damn your reverse psychology

[Angel strike1]

i replyed . lol

[shmeakone]

LOL ...

[LOJ]

I didn't see anything too crazy. Their board is usually fun to read, it's only a few knicks fans that ruin it for them.

[illastrate]

He said he would play RT @SumCorrigall3: @MadelynBurke @Chris_Broussard @michaeleaves any news on if CP3 will play tonight vs the Knicks?

https://twitter.com/#!/michaeleaves/sta ... 6872953858

[mkwest]

Paul will be a gametime decision. If he is rested, then Bledsoe will get the start. Paul already said he will play, so we know where his head is, but we need to do what is best for the playoffs. If he's healthy, we can win a game or two on the road. If he's injured, we may win a game or two.

[ejftw]

Paul won't start at least..last time we had a backup point guard start in MSG he went for lke 39

[mkwest]

That's why Melo doesn't shoot from that side of the floor.

[mkwest]

Paul won't start at least..last time we had a backup point guard start in MSG he went for lke 39

Mike Taylor will always have that night.

[LOJ]

I'd like to see Butler get more touches.

When he gets it going for us we become a totally different team.

[mkwest]

I'd like to see Butler get more touches.

When he gets it going for us we become a totally different team.

He has 9 points in the last 2 games combined with one of those being when left early. We're going to need him to put up around 15 or so. Mo and Foye need to bring it as well.

[mkwest]

Very poor decision making to close out the quarter.

Knicks up 24-19 at the end of 1.

[LOJ]

Pretty ugly 1st quarter, Blake will have to work extra hard to pull this one out.

[scratch21]

its tough to watch w/o CP3

[LOJ]

its tough to watch w/o CP3

They're just not used to someone not having 100% control on the floor. Blake will need to step up and be very dominant in this game if we want a chance.

He will also need to make the right passes when he gets double teamed.

[mkwest]

its tough to watch w/o CP3

Kind of reminds me of last year's Clippers

[LOJ]

Novakhiin is cool when he's not murdering the Clippers