Please post your predictions for the game coming up versus the San Antonio Spurs. What are the Clippers keys to get a W? Which Spurs player should Los Angeles focus the D on? Will the game be bombs away by both teams or first to 100 gets the W? Are there any injury/player availability updates?
Tough battle thus far as the Spurs able to score inside and out. Clippers need to somehow keep pace. Not turning the ball over would help.
Kawhi nice 1v1 stop, to Harden for 2, and the Clippers now lead 15-14.
Good sign as Batum able to drain the open bingo
Good to see Mann hit his shot as well- turnaround in the lane
Refs say that Clipper pass went outta bounds before KPJ caught it- doesn't look like it.
Ugh- 2 turnovers in a row and two baskets for the Spurs on the break, that time and-1.
Batum yes at the buzzer on the perfect dish by Harden! Clips down 32-30 at the end of 1.
Batum his third 3! Now the diving steal!
Now Kawhi the drive and kick to DJJ in the corner where he drains the bingo, and the Clips retake the lead.
Zu puts back Harden's miss. Big fella has been excellent. Clips allowing a lot of layups though.
Kawhi has been very good- rebounds JH's 3, gives it right back and it's a bingo!
Clips must do a better job getting back on D after missing
Zu once again hustles to lay in Harden's missed layup!
Good second quarter by the Clippers who lead 65-60 at the half
Clippers able to get some foul calls for once
That was a confident 3 by Kawhi, Clips up 79-67
Zubac, again!
Clippers are thankful to the Spurs for rushing to shoot early in the shot clock
Vintage KL- off the curl cut, jumper in the lane is pure
Wow Zu wasn't fouled there? Instead they say Wemby had a good block. Clips 15 point lead cut to 7
Wemby wanted to go after Zubac lol
Wow Mann gets tripped up, no call. Now another turnover by the Clips as Batum jumped to pass, and the Clipper 15 lead is now a 1 point deficit
Clips with a scant 2 point lead going into the 4th, 94-92
Zu comes back just in time to clamp down on D
Jones traveled and they call a foul on Porter ugh
KPJ a tough, tough step back for 2
The big fella once more!
Guys gotta be aware of the clock- second shot clock violation in the last few minutes for the Clips
Lol Porter Jr jumped so high to contest Barne's shot that he ended up sitting on him
Going home for last half of Q4... how we looking?
Key jumper there by Leonard to keep the Spurs at bay
This is going to be some finish and both teams trade leads. Zu and 1! Late call but better than no call.
Powell somehow sneaks underneath Wemby for the layup!
Harden bingoooo! Clippers now up 117-107 with 3 minutes to go
Oh no DJJ has twisted his ankle. Clips need to sub him out.
Clippers putting the final touches on this one. Powell crossover jumper, Kawhi the floater, and the Beard applies the final dagger.
Clippers big 4 of Harden, Powell, Zubac & now Kawhi were absolutely terrific. Certainly the best game for Leonard this season- nearly 29 minutes played to boot. Special props to Zu who stopped Wemby many times, or made him kick the ball back out. The big fella ended up with 20 points and *22* rebounds as well.
ZU WITH A MONSTER GAME - not surprised he has been on an absolute tear this season!
Missed the whole game... going home to catch highlights.
Absolutely! He's especially been beasting lately. I don't seem the Clipper winning most of these tough games without his all around play.
Last year, the presence of a ball hogger like PG stunted the growth of Powell and Zu and the primary ball handler like JH is complimenting the likes of KL. Hope they stay healthy and add on these wins.
For sure! Clippers dodged a bullet thanks to PG's greed. His decline and usage rate were holding back Powell & Zu by limiting their touches. A lot of credit too to both those guys' hard work during the offseason. Zu definitely has gained strength in both lower & upper body, enabling him to snatch those 50/50 rebounds that he may have lost in previous years.
Also without PG, the ball has moved much better. PG's replacement in DJJ has been excellent on D and adds a nice athletic dimension that the Clips haven't had for awhile. And of course Jones Jr doesn't hog the ball. Harden just seem more relaxed and in the zone as well instead of having to think about whose turn it is to handle the ball.
Highlights from the game:
IMO this is the best the Clippers have looked. Just need a better backup big and someone else who can shoot the 3 and make at a high percentage in an ideal world but we are good as is.
