Posted:
#1
History surely matters here, but which history?
Having given one away at home the Clippers will be intent to not do it again. More importantly, the Clippers, with a chance to take a commanding 3-2 lead against OKC last year, blew the game in the last minute and lost. That was a very painful loss for this team because it looked like the Clippers were finally ready to take the next step. If NBA history tells us anything, its that good teams can learn from such losses and use that experience the next time around. The game 2 loss to the Spurs must have left the team with a similar feeling (as the loss to OKC in game 5) as they failed to show up for game 3 and were humiliated. This, in turn, prompted the response in game 4. Now the Clippers are in a must win situation again, but this time they are at home, with a chance to erase the memory of last year's painful game 5 collapse. This is a huge game for the franchise. Win, and at the very worst, you guarantee a game 7 back at home. If the Clippers are to make basketball history, and win a title, it starts with winning game 5 against the champs!
The Spurs, meanwhile, have not been great on the road against good teams. They have dropped the ball, so to speak, again and again. In fact, they should have lost game 2. This is not the same team as last years and the Clippers have found ways to exploit them. Pop resorting to fouling Jordan for long stretches (in the last 3 games played in LA) should tell you that when the Clippers are playing their best, the Spurs don't have many options. And, frankly, this entire fouling Jordan business has backfired (imo) as the Spurs have hurt themselves more than they have helped themselves. They not only lose offensive flow but the psychological impact on the team (with the message being that we are not good enough to beat these guys without resorting to fouling Jordan) is also demoralizing. Even more, each stoppage slows the game down and gives the Clipper starters (who are logging heavy minutes) a chance to rest. This also diminishes the impact of SA's great advantage in this series: its bench.
Finally, this has the feel of a series that goes 7. And the only way I see that happening is by the Clippers taking game 5 and putting the champs on the brink of elimination.
Clippers -2 for 3 units
Also closing an 8 unit tease with the Rockets at -2 (I only hope it goes better than what the Bulls did today)
0
GL
Hot Forum Topics
