Western Conference | Play-In - (7) Minnesota Timberwolves vs (8) Los Angeles Clippers

[AussieCeltic]

Again, the Wolves have 2 shots to win a home gain against at worst, similar calibre teams. It would be embarrassing for them to lose both. And if they do lose both, they would have gotten steamrolled in the first round anyway.

Why would the 8th seed be any less "earned" than the 7th seed?

Lastly, teams get tough draws all the time in the playoffs due to injuries, teams peaking, trades, etc. This is no different.

Last year, Memphis beat the Spurs/Pop to face the winner of 7-8, then beat GS/with Curry on fire to face the Jazz first round & then they took game 1 vs the #1 seed not just in the West but both dvisions.

I reference this to show Memphis didn't win just 2 single games against seperate opponents but 3 & all arguably tough matches. If the #1 Jazz were the 7th seed in this instance, they would have lost to the 9-10 seed & been in a do or die situation with a team like GS with Curry playing extremely well, game 7 situation after earning their league best record win or lose. Their reward for being the best team in the league.

How embarassing would it have been for the #1 seed not 7th to possibly lose their 2nd game to GS/Curry in a one off.That's the luck of the draw, am I right?.

If the #1 Jazz were the 7th seed....? What on Earth on you going on about with this nonsense.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who was completely lost by that.

[TimeisIllmatic]

It all depends on what KAT we will get in this game. Will we get the dominant KAT or the one who struggled in the playoffs the last time Minnesota was in it?

I think KAT will dominate the Clippers front court. He has a chip on his shoulder and a heavy heart still with the family losses.

[Tor_Raps]

I think the Clippers win this game with PG and Powell back. Surprised the spread is -3.5 for minny.

[cupcakesnake]

This a very offense vs. defense matchup. Both teams are capable on the other end, but Minnesota's defense is up and down and Clippers offense is unreliable and very reliant on a good night of shooting.

I have a healthy respect/fear of that Clippers defense. The Clippers crushed us early in the season 3 times. Both teams are quite different since those games, which were all in early November. The Wolves started the season very slow and very cold shooting. We blew out the Clippers in January in a game with no George, Towns, Russell, Zubac, Batum etc.

Basically I don't think we have useful regular season data on this matchup. I think this matchup will come down to the Clippers shooting. A hot shooting Clippers team will be too much for the Wolves. But if the Clippers come out a little bricky, and Minnesota has a big offensive advantage, it swings Wolves.

It will be interesting to see how the Clippers defend Towns. They have a good center in Zubac, but the Clips also love to switch and would love if they could get their wings on Towns while he's on the perimeter and keep Zu in the paint. Ty Lue is very crafty, and Finch is an unknown in this department. The x-factor for the Wolves is always Anthony Edwards. A hot night from him would make this a Wolves victory.

[Klomp]

There was a good point brought up on Minnesota radio yesterday by Kevin Harlan, who will be calling tonight's game.

How much of a factor is the reality that there is another game on Friday? If a team gets down big in the second half, will they try like hell to fight and claw their way back or do they just essentially pack it in mentally to get ready for the second game?

[spanishninja]

There was a good point brought up on Minnesota radio yesterday by Kevin Harlan, who will be calling tonight's game.

How much of a factor is the reality that there is another game on Friday? If a team gets down big in the second half, will they try like hell to fight and claw their way back or do they just essentially pack it in mentally to get ready for the second game?

depends on which team is down. It's hard for me to imagine the clippers giving up after all the 20+ comebacks they had during regular season games. 2 days is enough rest in case the efforts fall through.

[nzd07]

Pretty cool that the Wolves have a dedicated troll tbh

He’s been around for about 15 years. Even was on an old MN sports board that was shut down like 7 years ago. Dude has 100+ accounts made up everywhere so you know how cool he is


When T_Brandon gets shut down, he’ll be back with another

He must live here or has lived here in the past and has some beef with the team.

[mplsfonz23]

There was a good point brought up on Minnesota radio yesterday by Kevin Harlan, who will be calling tonight's game.

How much of a factor is the reality that there is another game on Friday? If a team gets down big in the second half, will they try like hell to fight and claw their way back or do they just essentially pack it in mentally to get ready for the second game?

depends on which team is down. It's hard for me to imagine the clippers giving up after all the 20+ comebacks they had during regular season games. 2 days is enough rest in case the efforts fall through.

I think they will both fight like hell no matter who's down. We are well known to give up HUGE leads. But even if they won't admit it, neither team want to face the Suns first round.

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[Edrees]

I'm picking the wolves. Clippers are 17-24 on the road. (Even the Knicks were 20-21) That's tied for worst road record of all teams that made the play in or better, in the entire NBA. Don't see them pulling off the upset with that Minnesota playoff crowd going berserk.

[Klomp]

I'm picking the wolves. Clippers are 17-24 on the road. (Even the Knicks were 20-21) That's tied for worst road record of all teams that made the play in or better, in the entire NBA. Don't see them pulling off the upset with that Minnesota playoff crowd going berserk.

That's a good stat, combined with the fact that Minnesota went 26-15 at home this year (after starting the season 7-9 at Target Center).

Timberwolves home losses in the 19-6 stretch to close the season:

12/28 vs. NYK: Only regular starter to play was Beverley on second-half of back-to-back
2/16 vs. TOR: All-star break getaway day on second-half of back-to-back
2/25 vs. PHI: Harden debut game and on second-half of back-to-back
3/23 vs. PHO: Best team in the league
4/5 vs. WAS: One dud game, no real excuses here except no Beverley
4/10 vs. CHI: Game 82 with nothing to play for

[Biff Cooper]

Tough call, but I went with my Wolves. If the game was in LA, I think KAT plays the entire game in foul trouble. With the game in Minnesota, and a full house crowd, I think the refs swallow the whistle on a couple of the fouls they would normally call on him - and that is enough to put Minnesota over the top.

[Wammy Giveaway]

Clippers always keep saying they have no narrative motivation; they are the new Spurs. However, they do have something worth fighting for: getting Leonard back, and only by winning this play-in will he officially return.

But there's another narrative: Chris Paul. They want revenge against the former savior for betraying the franchise and making his first Finals appearance at their expense. Had Clippers missed playoffs, CP3 would have finally won, ring or no ring. They would love nothing more than to spoil Paul's last chance at a title as a primary contributor.

Should they win the play-in, Clippers will not see Paul until the conference finals, setting things up for a true rematch. But if they lose the play-in, they'll get one more chance at 8th, where they can settle the score once and for all in the 1st round (but they'll have a tall task ahead of them as Pelicans won season series 3-1 with Valanciunas as the designated Clipper killer, while the Spurs play for the good of basketball and will require an individual or franchise career high to beat them). Therefore, I wouldn't be surprised if Clippers tanked this game so they can go for the 8th seed and have a chance to ruin, if not end, Paul's playoff legacy.

TL;DL version:
- If Clippers want to prove there's no narrative, beat Wolves to get 7th seed and face Grizzlies
- Tanking first play-in to go for 8th seed proves there is unfinished business between Clippers and Chris Paul

[spanishninja]

Clippers always keep saying they have no narrative motivation; they are the new Spurs. However, they do have something worth fighting for: getting Leonard back, and only by winning this play-in will he officially return.

But there's another narrative: Chris Paul. They want revenge against the former savior for betraying the franchise and making his first Finals appearance at their expense. Had Clippers missed playoffs, CP3 would have finally won, ring or no ring. They would love nothing more than to spoil Paul's last chance at a title as a primary contributor.

Should they win the play-in, Clippers will not see Paul until the conference finals, setting things up for a true rematch. But if they lose the play-in, they'll get one more chance at 8th, where they can settle the score once and for all in the 1st round (but they'll have a tall task ahead of them as Pelicans won season series 3-1 with Valanciunas as the designated Clipper killer, while the Spurs play for the good of basketball and will require an individual or franchise career high to beat them). Therefore, I wouldn't be surprised if Clippers tanked this game so they can go for the 8th seed and have a chance to ruin, if not end, Paul's playoff legacy.

TL;DL version:
- If Clippers want to prove there's no narrative, beat Wolves to get 7th seed and face Grizzlies
- Tanking first play-in to go for 8th seed proves there is unfinished business between Clippers and Chris Paul

I see it the same way as what you have bolded. the only way the clippers lose this game is if they are trying to draw the Suns.

[John Murdoch]

With Kawhi its a curbstomp, without him Wolves have a real shot. Good spot or Edwards to really step up

[jc23]

I like the clippers in this game.

[T_Brandon]

Experts overwhelmingly pick Los Angeles clippers


https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33720582/nba-playoffs-experts-picks-play-tournament-first-round?platform=amp

[T_Brandon]

I like the clippers in this game.

No question

[Klomp]

Experts overwhelmingly pick Los Angeles clippers

"Experts" are often wrong

[Hsker4Life]

I can’t believe people are actually suggesting LAC may tank this game in hope of drawing PHX. That’s just insane.

You don’t rank the 7v8 game when one more loss means you’re season is DONE. And you don’t tank to draw the Suns.