What the hell just happened to the Clippers?

Ahahahahhahahaha.  Man oh man.  Ahahahahahahahahaha.  That was an all time upset and an all time night on Twitter. (@bengalli33) The Clippers bought into both their own hype and at the same time their own cursed past.  A team that had never been there before was acting like it had which apparently didn’t jive with the sports gods.  Their retribution was harsh and glorious.  But metaphysical explanations aside, here’s what I’d point out.  

The stars didn’t shine.  Paul George’s playoff failures are well documented (10 pts on 4-16 this game) but Kawhi Leonard, alleged greatest player in the world, went 6-22 for 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists in 43 minutes in this one.  The duo went 2-18 in the 2nd half for 5 total points including 0, ZERO, in the 4th quarter! They played like they couldn’t affect the outcome of the game.  I’ve seen this before.  2004 Lakers against Detroit in the Finals and Cavs versus Celtics 2010, 2nd round.  Kawhi couldn’t seem to motivate, lead, or carry his teammates to even a respectable game 7 defeat. 

Cry me a Rivers.  Doc Rivers is a good coach but happens to be overrated and now people might be properly rating him.  The guy was in charge of a team that blew leads of 16, 19, and 12 while losing 3 straight to shockingly fall from a 3-1 lead.  And that’s the 3rd time he’s done that in his career! (2nd with Clippers)  The story in this series was adjustments.  When the Clippers vaunted defense couldn’t stop the Nuggets attack, Doc didn’t try shaking things up or taking out players that weren’t at their best.  A notable example is playing Montrezl Harrell instead of Ivica Zubac.

Before Game 6, Nikola Jokic had this to say about Zubac “They’re completely different types of defenders,” Nikola Jokic explained. “Zubac is kind of bigger, taller. He’s covering the space really good. I can’t shoot over him that easy.” and the stats seem to back him up:  “With Zubac as the primary defender this series, Nikola Jokic is shooting 23-of-49 from the field (46.9 percent). With Harrell as the primary defender, Jokic has made 10-of-14 shots (71.4 percent).”  In Games 5 and 6, Zubac had a +27 and Harrell had a -29 yet in Game 7, Doc played Harrell 25 minutes and Zubac 14.  Why? He’s got a lot to answer for as the Clippers miss the conference finals for the 50th year.  

Can the Nuggets threaten the Lake Show?

It’s hard to say that a No. 3 seed that’s just come back from 3 games to 1 in 2 straight series can’t threaten any team so the answer is yes.  But one thing about the Lakers is that they’ll be ready.  They have LeBron James, the actual greatest player in the world, who has been there before and I don’t think he’ll let the Lakers downplay an opponent they went 3-1 against in the regular season. (there’s that number again!) Jokic is gonna face the toughest defense he’s had all playoffs with a combination of Javale McGee, Anthony Davis, and Dwight Howard banging bodies but also being able to chase him out and bother him with length.  And although Jamal Murray has destroyed wills, Frank Vogel has been quick to make adjustments in both of the Lakers’ series.  Add that the Lakers should fare a lot better than the Clippers in the 4th quarter with their ability to play excellent D and general fear of LeBron.  I’ll say Lakers in 6.

The nerds have the Celtics favored to beat the Heat. Should we believe them?

It’s hard not to point to the Celtics with their aura and smart coach and budding superstar and super-talented cast and not say they’re favorites but the Miami Heat might be becoming America’s Team.  Jimmy Butler’s heartwarming “The Blindside” story, Tyler Herro’s rookie savvy and um demographic, Goran Dragic’s Euro-Nash, to simply just Bam, all overseen by perhaps the coolest dude in sports history, Pat Riley.  The Heat are gonna come to play, and play hard, and they ain’t quitting.  The Celtics might have a closer core and more talented depth with Gordon Hayward slated to come back at some point this series but the Heat are their worst nightmare.  It’ll come down to how clutch Kemba Walker really is cause Jayson Tatum ain’t that yet.  I believe we’ll see some UCONN Kemba in this series. Celtics in 7.