1. For the record, last nightâs game was the first at Staples Center this season at full capacity.
2. It wasnât even really Playoff P (though he had a good game). It was a combination of 2019 second round draft pick Terance Mann channeling Steph Curry and dropping 39 points on 7-10 from the arc, and Quin Snyder just flat-out fucking refusing to make any meaningful adjustments in the second half. Tell your guys to stop shooting so many three pointers when they arenât falling for the love ofâŚâŚâŚâŚ
Then, the Clippers were straight up abusing Rudy Gobert. The Jazz tried switching to zone for a bit. The main problem is they didnât have any capable perimeter, point of attack defenders. Conley and Mitchell normally can, but both were clearly bothered by injuries. It fell on Gobert except the Clippers played five out, forcing him to either help the POA defender who got beat or stay with his man. Often he wouldnât even fully commit and was caught between the paint and the corner three point line. I canât even begin to explain how infuriating that was. Snyder put Gobert on Mann who got so many wide open threes because he was supposed to be the one who canât shoot except he was like âNope, Iâm cosplaying as Larry Legend tonight.â I know Gobert signed that $200 million contract in the off-season, but Snyder should have pulled Gobert. At least then youâre giving up two points, not open threes.
If the Clippers didnât shoot so ungodly amazingly, they probably lose that game. Still, try literally anything else, Snyder. Once the Clippers stopped running pick and roll, Gobert was useless out there.
3. Unless Kevin Durant has another other worldly performance and/or Jrue Holiday/Khris Middleton have exceptionally bad performances, I see the Bucks winning Game 7.
4. I believe Chris Paul needs a few negative tests in a row before he can return. The thing is, we donât know whatâs going on with him. Does he have COVID-19? Is he asymptomatic? Paul probably misses Game 1.
The Suns are better equipped to play against the Clippers considering they have no major injuries, better on-ball defenders, and notably a player who can get to the basket whenever the hell he wants. Gobert is a better rim protector than Deandre Ayton right now, but Ayton is more mobile. He wonât get exploited the way Gobert was. Itâll be an interesting series. Without Kawhi Leonard, I donât see how the Clippers advance though I didnât think theyâd make it past the Jazz so maybe I should, you know, shut the **** up entirely.
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Nets vs. Bucks is awesome. Iâm upset I missed the first three quarters. Whomp.
Bucks win on a Kevin Durant air ball in overtime. That feels oddly anti-climactic. The Nets had so many chances but were building houses in Brooklyn. I did kind of want Suns vs. Nets in the Finals for the Chris Paul/James Harden narrative. I guess Clippers vs. Sixers would have the Doc Rivers connection. Obviously, Sixers are who Iâm rooting for based on whoâs left despite my general dislike for Rivers as a coach. Hopefully, they can get past the Hawks.