The first round playoff picture is set with the Clippers beating the Kings. After an up-and-down season, the Clippers enter the playoffs on fire. Utah's good, but I think their offense bogs down. Clips in 5.
I'll go with the Clippers in 6, but I wouldn't be totally shocked if there's a collapse, and the Jazz end up winning in 6 instead. Nevertheless, I will go with the best NBA team in LA right now.
Utah's lack of playoff experience and their offensive struggles will put the Clippers over the Jazz. Also as long as Chris Paul's healthy and you're not playing the Rockets or Warriors, you have a strong chance in winning.
For those who aren't aware, Isaiah Thomas' sister died in a car crash. A classy gesture at a time when Gobert is certainly entitled to feel bummed about his own misfortune.
That was a gutsy win by Utah. However, while the injury for Gobert could have been much worse, he's likely to miss the series, and even if he does play won't be 100%. If Favors were healthy, I'd like their chances, but it took everything he had to play 30+ minutes on Saturday. It'll probably go 6 or 7, but I'm sticking with my prediction.
Blake Griffin out for the playoffs. Even though they had little to no chance of beating the Warriors, I think it's time to move on from this guy. Season ending injuries in back-to-back first rounds... He's made of glass.
Game 1 showed that Blake can't get you buckets in the 4th when you need him. CP has to carry the load in crunch time so it might help them to not have to feed Blake in the 4th
The Clippers have played pretty well when one of Blake or CP are out, albeit not at a championship level. Maybe they should have traded Griffin to a team desperate for a star when they had the chance.
I know Doc doesn't want to give Gobert confidence... but for him to say in the post game interview that Derrick Favors made more of a difference, and downplay Goberts performance, was laughable. Gobert clearly gave his team a huge lift, even just for his energy. Nevermind the fact that he was doing a great job of protecting the rim, while also providing a scoring punch.
ISO Joe, has just been awesome. Ingles as well.
"I don't know if I practiced more than anybody, but I sure practiced enough. I still wonder if somebody - somewhere - was practicing more than me." - Larry Bird
This has been a great series. Everybody loving Joe Johnson (Iso Joe becoming an endearing nickname), CP3 going off, comebacks, a disheveled Quin Snyder going days without sleep, Steve Ballmer's roller coaster of emotions, Gordon Hayward going mainstream...
Clippers almost blew it again. CP3 proving again and again with his clutch scoring, play making, and defense why he is one of the best players in the league