Comments on: Clippers vs Hornets Recap: Easy-Ish Win in Charlotte

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 07:12:39 +0000

Well, New Orleans flaked on their home fans losing to Phx in a game where they were basically blown out in the first half, made few adjustments, had a rally in the 2nd half, but were short. Wasted a 30 pt Zion effort. It’s almost like they really didn’t care to face the Clippers in Round 1 and preferred the 6th seed, probably b/c they didn’t think they could keep up with Dallas due to strength of schedule with Ingram out.

The Clippers are almost certainly going to be facing Dallas in Round 1. I don’t mind the match up. I can’t really say that the duo of Luka/Kyrie is better or a tougher match up than Zion/Ingram in a playoff setting, especially with those wings like Jones/Murphy and the behemoth that is Valanciunas. I can’t say that Luka is more unguaradable than Zion. We’ve had success against Luka. Zion has owned us. Both teams present challenges but I think we know how to match up vs Dallas whereas we only figured it out for 1 game vs N.O. I like the Dallas match up b/c Harden is more playable on the defensive end. Luka is a big dude who wants to sit at the top of the key on most plays and Harden handles big dudes well.

The Clippers do have a say in who becomes the #1 seed. If they were to beat Denver this week, I think it would probably help catapult OKC to the #1 spot and the Clips could carve out a draw that doesn’t involve facing Denver until the conference finals.

I am not sold on OKC. Watched their game against the Knicks and a depleted NYK team just lost that game at the FT line (+ a horrible non call on Lu Dort hip checking Brunson on his go ahead field goal with 7 seconds left). In terms of rebounding, offensive execution and getting good shot selection while being able to defend OKC’s best players, the Knicks did well. Josh Giddey outperformed (and though he has played well of late, I don’t expect that to carry over to the playoffs).

Minnesota is a solid group but I don’t know how far they can go without KAT.

Lakers v Clippers in Round 2 could happen.

By: WhyNotTyler

WhyNotTyler — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 07:02:29 +0000

NOLA also has a much better bench and more flexibility over the course of a series. They got more ways to win and Zion and Ingram, if not Murphy against our bench can be misnatches. We’ve got PG, Kawhi, Mann and Russ to throw at Luka. That’s the worst matchup they can get, with the exception of Denver possibly

By: WhyNotTyler

WhyNotTyler — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 06:58:59 +0000

Schedule just catches up to you and most teams have to deal with this: our March was OKC’s January. Minnesota’s December/January was the most brutal stretch I’ve come along, together with what Phoenix is facing now. We simply don’t play well. Got all the talent and flashes but we’re not matching the execution level of the top3. And I think we’re only ahead of some teams behind us due to the talent we got and the wins we accumulated earlier. If Dallas does the Gafford trade earlier, they’re ahead. The Pels or Suns with the same health for their stars would each give us a run. Putting us at like 6th to 7th.

The only way we come near the 1 seed: execute like during the food stretch when we were much better on defense, in terms of energy and I think coaching

By: I'm a Mann I'm 40

I'm a Mann I'm 40 — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 06:46:27 +0000

Yeah I think Clippers fans are taking the reg season losses against NOP too seriously. Dallas is a much tougher match up than them. Current Mavs are a much better team than Luka’s ever had and he’s as good as he’s ever been right now. He also plays our 4th best player out of the rotation. The biggest thing that matters is how we’re playing bc if it’s the team from March they lose to anyone in the playoffs. But if they’re December Clips with the switch flipped back on they’ll be dangerous. Not many easy match ups in the West to be had, Mavs def ain’t one of them no matter if we beat them twice 3 years ago.

By: chogokin

chogokin — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 04:28:34 +0000

If we had played well but just lost, that’d be one thing, but for me it’s not about just the wins/losses – it’s the way we lost those games in March. Repeated blown leads. Getting blown out starting w/ the second half. Nonsensical rotations/lineups. The team was basically losing every game against a good team, and barely beating bad teams ever since the All-Star break. That, and not the record, is why I’m so pessimistic about this team.

By: John Maclean

John Maclean — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 04:10:21 +0000

Something else worth mentioning as we agonize over the highs and lows of this season. Had we simply had Harden in camp or at the very least had played .500 ball in those first 6 games with him that’s another 3 wins. This March schedule was absolutely hideous and if not for that I think there would have been another 2-3 wins. That’s 5-6 more wins and probably the 1 seed. So perhaps we aren’t as shitty as we fear. The remaining schedule will inform us a lot in this regard. If we’re better than our record now is the time for that to emerge.

By: John Maclean

John Maclean — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 02:53:01 +0000

I’m with you. While I don’t like the challenge of having to knock Luka out a 3rd time in a row, the Mavs will at least allow Harden to breathe and contribute to where NOLAs defense can be suffocating. It also appears that it might be impossible for anyone to stop Zion right now and while Luka and Kyrie are no picnic either it’s at least theoretically possible to check them. I also think that Kawhi will get up for, and bring his terminator game against Luka. Zu should be the best Big in that series too. There are no easy matchups in the west but I can live with Dallas. What an incredibly entertaining series that should be—-for all NBA fans.

By: chogokin

chogokin — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 02:41:17 +0000

“We need more improvement from [Ty] in terms of flexibility in use of personnel”

“Sounds like the fans want more PJ.” – Ty

By: chogokin

chogokin — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 02:39:59 +0000

I know we beat Luke twice already, but those were shittier teams around him, and he’s playing outta his mind right now. The current Mavs are tough.

Ultimately I don’t really care who the opponent is – I just want the Clips to be playing well and to have their shit together when the playoffs start. Because if they continue to play the way they played through most of March, this team is a 1st round exit regardless of the matchup.

By: WhyNotTyler

WhyNotTyler — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 02:32:23 +0000

I believe Dallas is the better matchup for us. It’s interesting what you said about them possibly preferring a different team: for the Mavs, I think OKC is the team they probably want over us because Luka is either taller or stronger than their defenders and – Dallas IS 90% Luka, he creates everything for them. We do have multiple defenders to throw at him, he knows Ty will throw everything at him. Ain’t the series he wants.

Wouldn’t be surprised if they try to get OKC and avoid us