![]() ![]() ![]() Paul started the game, but left in the third quarter with a left hamstring strain and did not return to the court for the final frame. Without stars Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, the Los Angeles Clippers surprised the San Antonio Spurs for the second time this season, 106-101, on Thursday night at Staples Center. Don't count them out just yet.They might be wishing for some healthy players this Christmas. They have a history of playing their best on the biggest stage, and they'll have another shot to prove themselves on Sunday. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin aren't winners - they'll choke when the game is on the line.īut the Clippers aren't as inept as we think. They'll never make the conference finals. Of course the franchise, once the laughing stock of the NBA, would find a way to blow a Game 7. In the past, it would have been easy to write off the Clippers. Once again, Rivers has a challenge in front of him. They dominated the Rockets through the first four games of the series. Up until that Game 6 collapse against the Rockets, the Clippers looked every bit the part of an NBA champion. The NBA champion with the Celtics in 2008, Rivers is a master of motivation, and he'll have to pull out all the tricks on Sunday. Doc Rivers likes Game 7s, tooĪt 5-4, Rivers' Game 7 record isn't spectacular, but he is 2-0 with the Clippers. If he puts up another triple-double, Houston is going to have a tough time hanging around. Griffin has been one of the best players in the playoffs. He was masterful, as he has been throughout the playoffs. He had a triple-double with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Lost in the rightful praise of Paul's Game 7 performance against the Spurs was Griffin's absurd night. He stepped it up in 2014 when he had 24 points, six assists and five rebounds in the win over the Warriors. His improvement from just last year is astounding, and he's followed a similar trajectory in his last three game 7s.Īgainst Memphis in 2012, he was nonexistent against Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph with just eight points and four rebounds. He's averaging 25.4 points, 12.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game in the postseason. Griffin has been a monster in the playoffs. This Clippers-Rockets Game 7 is the NBA's Haters' Ball Blake Griffin continues to grow The longer he's stayed with the Clippers, the more help he's had. Plus, he'll have more backup than he did in that 2012 Game 7 against the Grizzlies. Paul is going to bring his best against the Rockets on Sunday. Paul was sublime in the 126-121 win over the Warriors last season.Īnd against the Spurs? Well, this says it all: Paul led the Clippers in scoring while getting no help from the young duo of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, who combined for eight points and eight rebounds. The Game 7 win over the Grizzlies was an 82-72 slugfest in a series where each team topped 100 points just once. These aren't out-of-this-world stats, but Paul did exactly what he needed to in each situation. Here's his stat line from each Game 7:įirst-round win over Memphis, 2012: 19 points, nine rebounds and four assistsįirst-round win over Golden State, 2014: 22 points, 14 assists and four stealsįirst-round win over San Antonio, 2015: 27 points, six assists and a bum hamstring For a team that is often criticized for not being tough enough, they continue to play their best in do-or-die situations.ĭespite all the "Chris Paul can't win in the playoffs" storylines we've seen, Paul has led his team to three straight wins in games meant to showcase greatness. The Clippers beat the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012, the Golden State Warriors in 2013, and the San Antonio Spurs in the thrilling Game 7 in the first round of this year's playoffs. Their one loss? In Game 1 against the Clippers, who were without Paul. ![]() They'll hope to continue that trend on the road in Houston, where the Rockets are 5-1 during the postseason. In the Chris Paul- Blake Griffin era, the Clippers are 3-0 in Game 7s. ET, ABC), the Los Angeles Clippers have plenty going against them. The franchise has never advanced to the conference finals and after that Game 6 collapse, the Rockets are the ones with momentum.īut for once, history might be on the Clippers' side. Heading into Game 7 against the Houston Rockets Sunday (3:30 p.m. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |