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How Will We Do In The Playoffs?

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How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#1 » by KyletheDingbat » Thu Mar 13, 2014 8:10 pm

We all know what happened the last two years with the injuries and what not, but I can't shake that terrible feeling I had while watching the 1st round Memphis series last year where it seemed like we had no NBA players except Chris Paul. This year, I'm loving what we're doing, just relishing every moment of it, and I believe we can and will win the championship.

But there are concerns. Even in the midst of our glory we've given up wide open dunks in crunch time. Griffin, who I believe is the 3rd or 4th best player in the league, still has that haywire feel where you don't know if he's going to do something spectacular or something hilarious (which makes the experience of watching him thrilling). My biggest concern is our interior D and rebounding. Oh, and one more thing...

Have we suffered enough? I know we're the Clippers, so the answer is yes, But it seems like this team hasn't had their 06 Mavs, 11 Heat, 90 Bulls level heart break that seems to spawn champions. Hope I'm wrong!

So what are our chances?
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ShoeMoney 

Post#2 » by Ranma » Thu Mar 13, 2014 8:29 pm

Vegas has the current odds at 12 to 1. :pray:
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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#3 » by Forte IV » Thu Mar 13, 2014 9:58 pm

John Hollinger has us as the best team according to his "calculations". Plus i like our odds to at least get to the finals since we dominate the West. Only team I see giving us some trouble are the Spurs.
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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#4 » by mttwlsn16 » Fri Mar 14, 2014 3:06 am

imo no reason we dont get to the WCF. but we are still a month away from the playoffs, so i will wait until then. for now i just hope we keep playing well, and can get JJ and Crawford back healthy.
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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#5 » by RiversideClips » Fri Mar 14, 2014 11:50 am

I, echo the statement above; lets get to the playoffs, first. The Clips have been playing off the chain & Granger is playing like there is something in the tank. I am hoping for a healthy team, including J-Crossover & JJ.
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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#6 » by McAdoo » Fri Mar 14, 2014 5:58 pm

Looking at the standings its possible we catch OKC for the 2nd seed, which would match us up with guess who? :-? Thats right Memphis again! I don't see them beating us in a 7 game series but I simply hate watching us play them.

I feel that the 2 most important things for the Clippers to have a successful playoff run is to get healthy and to avoid the spurs in the second round. If the Spurs are the 1 seed we need to be in the 2 or 3, if the Spurs are the 2 seed we need to be sitting in the 4 spot. I like our chances against any other team in the league, but the Spurs seem to send us to school on a regular basis.
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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#7 » by mkwest » Sat Mar 15, 2014 7:06 am

Thoughts of an eastern conference scout...

Scouts Takes: Clicking Clippers real threat

"The team that's made the big jump in the West is the Clippers. They've taken a major step forward defensively. Really, really impressive last time I saw them.

"It's living proof that you shouldn't pre-judge things 30 or 40 games into the season, because he looked absolutely confused back then. You would sit there wondering: 'Are they ever gonna get there?' But now you watch them and they definitely seem to understand what they're doing as a group. They play with good energy [defensively].


"A lot of it has to do with DeAndre Jordan's development. When you talk about players who've improved since last season, he's a big part of their success. But I just see a team that's more in sync. Everyone talking on D, everyone's anticipating rotations, moving on the flight of the ball. The makings are there for them to ramp it up another notch.

"The question with these guys is going to be: Can they can make enough outside shots to compete for the title? But they're a real threat. And you have to give Blake Griffin a lot of credit for that, too.


Marc Stein, ESPN Los Angeles
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Getting Over That First-Round Playoff Hump 

Post#8 » by Ranma » Sun Mar 16, 2014 11:26 pm

Paul Flannery, SB Nation (3/16/14)
"I agree with anyone who says that we’re having a great regular season but the proof is in the pudding in the playoffs," Rivers said. "I think this team needs to win a series and then I think, watch out. That’s how I look at our team."

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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#9 » by Quake Griffin » Mon Mar 17, 2014 12:55 am

this is the year we prove people wrong and Paul gets that internet borne hate-"can't get out the 2nd round" stigma off of himself.

we're capable.
this is the year we show and prove.

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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#10 » by TheNewEra » Mon Mar 17, 2014 12:57 am

Playoffs will be the true Doc x factor.
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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#11 » by marcusaurelius » Mon Mar 17, 2014 5:40 am

Up until recently, I thought that defense and rebounding were just really subpar, and would come back to haunt the team in the playoffs. However, with the recent player acquisitions, and everyone just getting more used to a new coaching staff/system, I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Get Crawford and Reddick healthy, and Davis and Granger comfortable in the rotation, and I believe that defense and rebounding will come around reasonably well.

If that happens, and I think that it more than likely will, I believe that the Clippers will have an excellent playoffs. They can legitimately go all the way IMO.
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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#12 » by QRich3 » Mon Mar 17, 2014 11:31 am

One thing I'm loving lately is the crunch time defense. Or not even crunch time, I mean when the other team's making a run and it's the deciding part of the game, when you say "we really need a stop right now". We are now playing very good defense in those moments, at least against bad teams. If we could make that a habit, and somehow we get everyone healthy for the playoffs, the rest of the west better watch out.
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Team Taking After Its Stars: Just Improve 

Post#13 » by Ranma » Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:15 am

Andrew Han, ESPN (3/17/14)
Yet there is a distinct lack of satisfaction among the Clippers these days. Players take pride in hard work bearing fruit, wins continuing in succession. But there is an appreciation that best is the enemy of better. Under Vinny Del Negro last season, there was an anxious pursuit to recapture the magic of the Clippers’ perfect December. As the season wore on, the team would change defensive schemes on a game-to-game basis, searching for the optimum foil to an opponent on any given night. It’s the kind of mentality that doesn’t allow for improvement, doesn’t allow for mistakes. Either a plan is executed perfectly and success is achieved, or it isn’t and a new strategy is formulated.

The chase for perfection both crowded and suffocated the Clippers.

Nowadays, Doc Rivers finds faith in his strongside pressure defense. And unlike earlier in the season, when only the Clippers’ starters seemed comfortable on that end...there is the trust on the court: Teammates know that the player behind them understands his function in the machine.
...

In that sense, vestiges of Rivers’ “ubuntu” mantra have found their place in Los Angeles. The value of a team identity is unity of its parts to be more, no matter how individually brilliant those components may be.

To always be improving requires a candid appraisal of oneself. It’s tough to resolve weaknesses if you’re not honest about what they are. That’s a frightening proposition. Who isn’t squeamish when reflected their flaws? But the Clippers realize that being a contender is more than just looking the part. It’s also about facing all the deficiencies the process reveals and having the luxury to be self-critical.

"I'm just here to try to win. I want our guys to believe that. I want our organization to believe that. I want to act like that: a winner,” Rivers said. “And I always tell our players there's no guarantee to it. You just have to be willing to get your heart broke, and then you have a chance to win. And if you don't do that, then you can't win. I believe that. So that's basically it."

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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#14 » by mj_shoefanatic » Tue Mar 18, 2014 7:59 pm

A WCF appearance is mandatory where we go from there depends on how well do in Rd 3.
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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#15 » by azncorruptedo17 » Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:33 pm

i think we're going to get taken out in the first round. o.O
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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#16 » by Roscoe Sheed » Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:39 pm

I think the best first round match ups for the Clips would be in order:

1. Suns (if they make it- very unlikely the Clips would play them anyway because they would probably be a #8 seed at best)

2. Mavs (challenging with their skill players, but the Mavs would definitely struggle to defend the Clips at nearly every position)

3. Blazers (very skilled offensive team, but struggle on D like the Mavs. I would be concerned about Batum bothering CP3 and Lopez being a pest. Also, they could go off for 15 three pointers in 1 game).

4. Rockets (Howard and Harden are certainly dangerous, Asik would be a challenge to score on. Beverly might get under their skin. However, I think the Clips have confidence against them this season).

5. Grizz (still a very tough team with Z Bo and Gasol. Allen would be a pest all series long. However, I think the Clips would prevail this time around).

6. Warriors (I think the Clips would only be slight favorites in this series. Warriors are a good team and always seem to play great against the Clips. They have shooters, a scoring big man in Lee, a good big man defender in Bogut, two solid wing defenders in Igoudala and Thompson. I really don't like most of their players and their coach. I really hope the Clips don't draw them in the first round).
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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#17 » by Quake Griffin » Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:24 am

Warriors 4
Rockets 5
Grizz 6th.


sorry....Warriors are all 3 pointers, no substance....their home crowd n a chance to get hot don't scare me over 7 games. the fact that they have length and good defensive players doesnt mean they have any chance of stopping us when theyre defending.

on paper theyre the #6 team on this list.
in reality...theyre really 3 or 4.
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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#18 » by Angel strike1 » Wed Mar 19, 2014 5:51 pm

Title or doc got to go.

Loo. Jk on 2nd part
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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#19 » by NBAfan3024 » Thu Mar 20, 2014 2:53 am

Problem is as it stands OKC are in the Clippers bracket for the 2nd round...who most will consider the west favourites.
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Re: How Will We Do In The Playoffs? 

Post#20 » by mttwlsn16 » Thu Mar 20, 2014 4:08 am

NBAfan3024 wrote:Problem is as it stands OKC are in the Clippers bracket for the 2nd round...who most will consider the west favourites.


I don't fear okc.
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