NBA Playoffs are very similar to bigtime boxing matches. We had the Clippers on the ropes and we let them off. If the games are like rounds, the Suns have won 3 very, very close 10-9 rounds. The Clippers have now won two very dominant 10-8 (maybe even 10-7) rounds. So as I see it, after 5 rounds, the Clippers have a 47 to 46 lead in points heading into the 6th round.
Games 6 & 7 are the championship rounds of a fight. And just like all great fighters, the Clippers have been masterful at dragging the Suns into the deep, uncharted waters where, typically, only grizzled, seasoned veterans know how to perform. Young upstarts like the Suns, IF they even reach these deep waters, typically drown a few times before learning how to compete and win in these moments.
So, my prediction is... If the Suns can't score a dramatic knockout tomorrow night, the final and decisive round (Game 7), will prove to be the final straw, where the Clippers will fully expose the inexperience of the young turk Suns and likely score a very ugly and decisive knockout, leaving the Suns laid-out on the canvas, bloodied and bruised and wondering how it all went wrong.
The danger here is that the young guys lose trust in CP3. It would be one thing if Paul were playing great and the young guys simply couldn't step up to the challenge (which would be the expected outcome). But to have their leader blow a gasket and leak oil all over the court...it's disturbing. If he can convince the team that his poor play is solely due to his bout with Covid, that could save his image and retain the trust he has so well-earned from the team all season long. It will be interesting to see how that plays out for sure.
In the end, none of us ever could've imagined a season like the one this team has gifted us this year. It's been a helluva, unforgettable ride. But, unless the Suns find a way to pin the bully up against the ropes and pummel him until he finally succumbs to exhaustion tomorrow night, I believe the ride is effectively over. And while I will be filled with immense disappointment, I'll also possess a huge amount of gratitude for a team that provided us all with a most unlikely and hugely pleasing season...at a time (Covid, Trump, etc...), we sorely needed the reprieve!