2015 Playoffs: (2) Houston vs. (3) LA Clippers

[Andrew]

The Bulls turned in the shoddier performance yesterday, but the Clippers had the bigger choke job. That fourth quarter is going to haunt them until next season if they don't get the job done on the road in Game 7.

So much for the Rockets being a joke. This series has been all over the place.

[Mandich]

I can't believe this shit.

Clippers have the best point guard, the best center in the regular season and the best player in the Playoffs and a championship coach and they can't get through Houston?

I still think they'll advance.

[NovU]

Look at the production outside of trio in that game. In contrast, Harden struggled mightily but was saved by the team depth.

[bowdown]

Unreliable defense for both Houston and Clippers. No lead is safe for either team. Same was true of Portland. Everytime Portland played one of these teams both last year and this season you could never rest on a lead.

[Lamrock]

Really hope LAC advances tonight, and I think they will. I hate the Rockets and don't think they be able to make it a very interesting series with GS. What a collapse though. They had a similar choke-job last year in game 5 against OKC (though to be fair, that game was rigged from the start).

[NovU]

LAC won't advance tonight. Maybe tomorrow though.

[[Q]]

I'm really upset the game is tomorrow and not today. I have to work and will miss the game.

[NovU]

I'm just upset the season is coming to an end soon. What do I use my second monitor for now.

[Patr1ck]

I'm really upset the game is tomorrow and not today. I have to work and will miss the game.

Call in sick.

[Kevin]

Clipps won't advance, unfortunately.

"Rockets 42-1 when having a lead of 15+ at any point, Clippers 2-18 when trailing by 15+."

[NovU]

What are you talking about? This is a very close game at not even mid 3rd quarter.

EDIT: ok... my streaming was lagging i guess. Rockets it is.

EDIT: LoL, Q is lucky he didn't call in sick. This game's done already unless the Clippers reverse what they were served in last game's 4th quarter.

[Mandich]

Harden passes off the attack on the rim are so smooth and precise, kind of like LeBron.

He can play as a team player and not break the teams offense, a thing Kobe could never do.

If only he was better at defense.

I feel so bad for Chris Paul. Griffin needs some more time to mature.

[NovU]

CP3 is entirely guarding Harden in fourth. LoL

[Mandich]

Griffin passing up an open mid range jumper and stopping the ball in a critical moment.

Reddick was just horrible.

[Stress Fracture]

Shhhhh. Just close your eyes. It will all be over soon.

[Andrew]

Wow. And no one on the Clippers even pulled a Tracy McGrady.

[Patr1ck]

Wow. And no one on the Clippers even pulled a Tracy McGrady.

Can you enlighten me on that reference?

Poor game for the Clippers. They were very passive and gave up on a lot of plays. They're lack of aggression led to lack of freethrows. Jamal Crawford is horrible and continues to halt the offense with his default setting of "shoot when you are in trouble." Matt Barnes had a +9 on the court and didn't score a single point. They all seemed too concerned with calls and played with a lot of desperation trying to make the hero plays instead of moving the ball which was their strength.

Hats off to Houston. If they keep playing like that, the western conference finals should be great to watch with the top two mvp candidates going head to head.

[Andrew]

Back in the 2003 Playoffs, Tracy McGrady's Orlando Magic were the eighth seed, up 3-1 on the top seeded Detroit Pistons. After winning Game 4 to take that seemingly commanding 3-1 lead, T-Mac commented that it felt good to get into the second round. Since the first round had expanded to a best of seven beginning that year, it was obviously premature, and the Pistons proved that it wasn't a foregone conclusion by winning the next three to advance.

[[Q]]

Clippers don't deserve it. Better luck next year.

[Jackal]

I had to LOL at the top comment.

http://streamable.com/iiqq

TAKE ME WITH YOU TO THE NEXT ROUND

[Andrew]

Well played, indeed.

[NovU]

CP3 could have been playing alongside Dwight right now too in LA if Stern didn't stop the trade in the past.



What a weird series. The Clippers didn't just win in 3 early games but completely demoralized the Rockets. Then the Rockets pulled a highly unlikely comeback to win game 6 then embarrassed the Clippers in game 7. Doc Rivers and CP3 have some head scratching to do where things went wrong because this was one of the biggest let downs in recent history.

[Jackal]

I was just thinking about that: if Howard didn't like the way Kobe is, I don't think he would like CP3 that much either. That guy is fierce.

Dwight is in an ideal situation for him in Houston. I don't mind him not being a Laker, CP3 still hurts though.

Blake Griffin and Anthony Davis are gonna be a lot of fun to watch for a while to come though. Especially Davis.

[mp3]

I see Anthony Davis as the 2nd coming of KG.

For those who remember his early days in Minny (wow felt old just saying that)

96 feels like it was just yesterday lol

[Mandich]

KG averaged 22/12/5/1.5/1.5 while being a truly great defender and efficient on offense.

Davis is the only player in the NBA who has a chance to replicate that.

Griffin will never be an elite defender. He can be as good as Davis in almost every other aspect. He went from 12 Rpg in his first year to 7.5 this to almost 13 in the Playoffs.

I'm starting to question his effort on the boards and defensively. And mental toughness. Settles for so many jumpers, makes them, but then decides to pass them up in crucial moments.