In Game 1 of the Western Conference first-round series between the Clippers and defending champion Spurs, San Antonio was overwhelmed by the energy of the home team. Los Angeles, even when making mistakes in defensive rotations, did so with so much speed and commitment that it often didn’t matter. The Clippers, with an assortment power dunks from Blake Griffin and power spikes from DeAndre Jordan, had the capacity crowd at Staples Center in a frenzy all night. The Spurs didn’t have an
A funny thing happened on the Clippers’ way to continued ignominy. Imagine finishing the season on a 14-1 surge that takes you to the third seed in the brutal Western Conference and finding yourself facing the sixth-seeded booby prize, the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs, who are favored in the series opener on your floor. What else is new? As one buzzard said to another, “I’ve been having Clipper luck.” Oh, you say the Clippers won? Fairy tales can come true; they just
The standings play a large part in our handicapping tonight. Miami’s loss at home (and their injury plague) leaves the other three contenders for the final two playoff Eastern Conference spots in much better shape. [Read more…]
What do James Harden, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook and LeBron James have in common? They’re all legitimate MVP candidates, of course. But what else does that Awesome Foursome have in common? In a potential playoff series against the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs, they can all expect to see an individual matchup with Kawhi Leonard. In case you’ve been transfixed by March Madness, the Spurs are looking like a championship contender. Again. If you want some perspective, my son Andrew was born
One day after getting almost everything right, my Wednesday picks were as off-target as a DeAndre Jordan free throw. Just kidding, big guy. Jordan and Chris Paul slowed down the Russell Westbrook MVP Express and beat the Thunder on a night of NBA surprises. [Read more…]
Tuesday’s best of six NBA games is the Cavaliers in Dallas. LeBron James $10500 was relatively quiet in an easy win on Saturday, one night after getting smothered by great defence in a loss to the soaring Hawks. The King seems about ready to break out with a triple-double. [Read more…]
It happens every spring: The snow melts, the birds start chirping, the cherry trees eventually blossom … and the Spurs start looking their best. We have gotten a small sample size of it over the first few days of March, and with five weeks now remaining in the season, I will be so bold as to predict that San Antonio will finish with one of the top four records in the West and end up defending their title in Game 1
The NBA schedule now features a TV doubleheader on ABC each Sunday, and today’s 1:00 Eastern start is a terrific game. The Clippers have lost three in a row and will be determined to end that mini-slide, but they are up against an even more desperate team in Oklahoma City. [Read more…]