San Antonio vs Los Angeles

[Iceman]

Wow, so the poll is 14 to 1 in favor of San Antonio. Anyone want to give me 14-1 odds and I'll take the Clips?

15-1 now. I voted Spurs as well. Not confident, but I just see the depth of the Spurs being the reason they advance

 

[Rivercard]

15-1 now. I voted Spurs as well. Not confident, but I just see the depth of the Spurs being the reason they advance

The Spurs have the better bench and experience for sure. But home court in LA probably makes this series a coin flip.

 

[sunsfan88]

I think the Clippers take it. I think CP3 is the difference in the series. You can tell he realizes that he's getting up there in age and that this is one of his last opportunities to make a long playoff run, something he's never done in his career.

Guys like Duncan and Pop don't need this as bad as he does for his legacy.

 

[Absolute Zero]

Another great battle tonight, these teams are going toe to toe man!

 

[sunsfan88]

Its amazing how the Spurs continue to get favorable calls in the playoffs even years later.

 

[Absolute Zero]

Longest 3rd Quarter with the hack a Jordan

 

[SirStefan32]

No doubt that hack-a-Jordan strategy is effective, but it's really making me bored with this game. This is painful to watch.

 

[Absolute Zero]

No doubt that hack-a-Jordan strategy is effective, but it's really making me bored with this game. This is painful to watch.

I hear you.

Its almost my bedtime, and we aren't even to the 4th yet.

 

[sunsfan88]

No doubt that hack-a-Jordan strategy is effective, but it's really making me bored with this game. This is painful to watch.

All that hacking and yet the score is still....tied lol.

 

[Bert]

What a great series this has been.

 

[Absolute Zero]

I have a feeling this sucker is going 7

 

[Absolute Zero]

Can't remember if it was ESPN or Fox Sports radio, but this afternoon they were basically ripping on Doc Rivers for losing his cool in this series, not keeping his head about him, and saying he's not the right coach for the Clips.

They were also saying that if the Clips get bounced in the first round, they are going to get "blown up", getting rid of guys like Deandre Jordan, etc. Not sure if that is the case, but they do have some vets that we might want to take a look at.

 

[sunsfan88]

I think Spurs will now wrap this up in game 6. SAS won't allow themselves to go back to LA for a game 7. I think game 6 will be similar to be game 3.

 

[elindholm]

They were also saying that if the Clips get bounced in the first round, they are going to get "blown up", getting rid of guys like Deandre Jordan, etc. Not sure if that is the case

I'd be surprised. Griffin is in his prime and they paid heavily to get Paul. As long as they keep those two, nothing they could do would qualify as "blowing it up."

They've been looking for an upgrade to Matt Barnes at SF forever, and their front-court depth is thin. I wonder whether they could be a taker for the Morrises.

Either way, they do have a tough decision to make with Jordan, who is a UFA.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I'd be surprised. Griffin is in his prime and they paid heavily to get Paul. As long as they keep those two, nothing they could do would qualify as "blowing it up."

They've been looking for an upgrade to Matt Barnes at SF forever, and their front-court depth is thin. I wonder whether they could be a taker for the Morrises.

Either way, they do have a tough decision to make with Jordan, who is a UFA.

is Jordan a tough decision? The guy is dominant on D and really young. Centers like him don't grow on trees. But if we could swing them the Morri and our first rounder for Jordan, I'd do it in a HEARTBEAT.

Worst decision the Clips made was going after Hawes instead of getting Paul Pierce. He would have been the PERFECT SF for them. Guy who can still create for himself, and a leader who makes big shots. Barnes is a complete and utter joke.

 

[Phrazbit]

He led the league in rebounding and was one of the best defensive bigs this year. Keeping him is the obvious choice for the Clips, if he isn't there next year its because some other team seduced him away.

 

[sunsfan88]

is Jordan a tough decision? The guy is dominant on D and really young. Centers like him don't grow on trees. But if we could swing them the Morri and our first rounder for Jordan, I'd do it in a HEARTBEAT.

Yea but how is he supposed to be dominant when the other team starts hacking him and forces Doc Rivers to bench him til the last 2 mins of the game like they've been doing this entire series?

He can't be dominant on D from the bench.

Looks like the Clippers owner is already having second thoughts about giving someone who is such a liability offensively the MAX contract.

https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/593275178433417217

 

[Absolute Zero]

Yea but how is he supposed to be dominant when the other team starts hacking him and forces Doc Rivers to bench him til the last 2 mins of the game like they've been doing this entire series?

He can't be dominant on D from the bench.

Looks like the Clippers owner is already having second thoughts about giving someone who is such a liability offensively the MAX contract.

https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/593275178433417217

What do you think his prospects are for improving his free throw shooting AFTER this season? That seems to be the key question.

 

[sunsfan88]

What do you think his prospects are for improving his free throw shooting AFTER this season? That seems to be the key question.

Improving them enough to where teams stop intentionally fouling him? Low imo. He seems to be like Dwight/Shaq in that regard.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Improving them enough to where teams stop intentionally fouling him? Low imo. He seems to be like Dwight/Shaq in that regard.

Silver has come out and already said he's going to look at curbing Hack-A-Whoever and unlike Stern, isn't afraid to make changes. bottom line, there's no better defensive C in the game. That's worth a MAX deal, IMO.

 

[Rivercard]

is Jordan a tough decision? The guy is dominant on D and really young. Centers like him don't grow on trees. But if we could swing them the Morri and our first rounder for Jordan, I'd do it in a HEARTBEAT.

To me it's a no brainer for the Clippers to give DJ a max deal.

Worst decision the Clips made was going after Hawes instead of getting Paul Pierce.

Hindsight 20/20. Hawes had a very productive season last year and several teams were bidding hard for his services. Hawes signing in LA was considered one of the best offseason aquisitions at the time (behind James going to Cleveland). He's just flamed out for whatever reason and has become completly worthless. He looks like a lost puppy on the court.

 

[Cheesebeef]

To me it's a no brainer for the Clippers to give DJ a max deal.



Hindsight 20/20. Hawes had a very productive season last year and several teams were bidding hard for his services. Hawes signing in LA was considered one of the best offseason aquisitions at the time (behind James going to Cleveland). He's just flamed out for whatever reason and has become completly worthless. He looks like a lost puppy on the court.

I thought it was stupid at the time. Pierce seemed like a natural fit. And why spend that much money on a bench big when Jordan/Griffin both play huge minutes? thinking about strengthening your bench when you've still got glaring holes in your starting lineup doesn't seem like good practice.

 

[Rivercard]

I thought it was stupid at the time. Pierce seemed like a natural fit. And why spend that much money on a bench big when Jordan/Griffin both play huge minutes? thinking about strengthening your bench when you've still got glaring holes in your starting lineup doesn't seem like good practice.

I like Pierce a lot and yes he sure would be a welcome sight right now. But I can't agree too much with your assessment. LA has one of the best starting lineups in the league. A good bench big is exactly what they needed to play quality minutes to combat hack-a-DJ and give Griffen some rest. Hawes is younger, so I think they were hoping for a better long term investment as well.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I like Pierce a lot and yes he sure would be a welcome sight right now. But I can't agree too much with your assessment. LA has one of the best starting lineups in the league. A good bench big is exactly what they needed to play quality minutes to combat hack-a-DJ and give Griffen some rest. Hawes is younger, so I think they were hoping for a better long term investment as well.

you can't have one of the best starting lineups in the league when you literally have a donut hole at SF and nothing behind him. it's a good starting lineup, but with Pierce it would have been the best. Three players to spread the floor from deep, inside presence and three players who can create for themselves and others.

 

[Rivercard]

you can't have one of the best starting lineups in the league when you literally have a donut hole at SF.

Agree to disagree. Barnes is nothing to get excited about, but he's not horrible. Hawes was sold as a scorer but he couldn't even score at a sex addicts convention at this point. I don't recall reports of Pierce wanting to come to LA anyway, so not sure that was even a viable option at the time.