Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. NBA Playoff Basketball resumes after a break for more important things.
The Clippers advance to the second round and awaits the winner of Jazz/Nuggets.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ashley Landis/AP.)
So we remember last year that the Clippers seemed to be on the cusp of something. The team had a lot of solid players on their roster. At one point, they were even FIRST in the Western Conference standings. But if they got a star or two, they could be a scary threat in the West.
And then Kawhi Leonard chose to sign with the Clippers. Not only that but they stunned the basketball world by getting Paul George out of Oklahoma City. Suddenly, they were one of the favorites to win it all.
They had a struggle against Dallas, even though they were missing Kristaps Porzingis (yeah, I know). Luka Doncic is likely going to be a perennial MVP candidate in the years to come. He is already doing things that have wowed us and he’s only going to get better, which is terrifying.
But I had also said that Kawhi Leonard is possibly the best player in the game right now. The android was killing the Mavs softly; he averaged 32.8 points, 10.2 boards, 5.2 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. He did EVERYTHING. Kawhi carried the Clips and, once Paul George woke up, it’s smooth sailing for the Clippers.
We also had to give credit to their supporting cast for Game 6, though. George didn’t shoot as well in Game 6 but he still grabbed 9 boards and dished out 7 dimes. Landry Shamet provided much-needed outside shooting for them. Ivica Zubac helped out on the boards. And Reggie Jackson made four three-pointers in the 4th quarter to help clinch the series.
And we know Marcus Morris, Sr. will give out the dirty play once in a while (I don’t condone those) but what they had in Morris was an enforcer that won’t take crap from any other team. He’s there to intimidate, instigate, and, if needed, protect his stars. Every team needs somebody like that. You might hate him if he’s not on your team but you would love him if he was. But like I said, I don’t condone the dirty plays.
Anyway, the Clippers move on to face the winner of Jazz/Nuggets. Their robot needs to recharge, anyway.
Bullet Passes
The conference semifinal round has started in the NBA and… well, the Celtics got off to a double-digit lead in the first and never looked back. The Raptors just couldn’t make any shots (ended up at under 37 percent).
Thank goodness for playing in neutral sites, right?
That other series in the West continues to give us a duel that is possibly an all-timer. Jamal Murray and Donovan Mitchell were going at it shot by shot once again and Murray and the Nuggets outlasted the Jazz in a shooting exhibition. Murray gave us another 50-point performance as he joins Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, and Mitchell himself for scoring multiple 50-point games in a playoff series. Mitchell himself had 44 in that loss. Fans are extremely happy that we’re getting a Game 7 out of this.
As we watch Jamal Murray turn into a star in this series, check out this interview after the game:
(VIDEO CREDIT: House of Highlights.)
Murray reminds us that there are more important things than basketball.
NBA Playoff Scoreboard
Game 1: #2 TOR 94 vs #3 BOS 112 (BOS leads series, 1-0)
Game 6: #2 LAC 111 vs #7 DAL 97 (LAC wins series, 4-2)
Game 6: #3 DEN 119 vs #6 UTA 107 (Series is tied, 3-3)
Watch This Play
Kawhi Leonard got hit by Maxi Kleber and he still threw it down.
You gotta get up to throw down!@FoxSportsWest | @kawhileonard pic.twitter.com/5fJ0Oxx7XT
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) August 30, 2020
Please take care, everyone.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.