[WC First Round] (1)Golden State vs. (8)LA Clippers

It's on them sounds better than It's on Me.

 

Just speculating because I didn't see the game, but I wouldn't be surprised if part of it is that successful teams with well-established styles of play can be thrown for a loop by younger, more energetic, less predictable teams.

We saw it happen with the Rockets multiple times this year. Teams that, on paper, should have been steamrolled by even an injured Rockets team just completely flummoxed them and sometimes pulled off stunning upsets. If the Rockets or Warriors get to play the game the way they want to play it, they're probably going to win. But throw in some young underdogs with a lot of heart and nothing to lose, and that's enough to throw more methodical teams into chaos. Energy and unpredictability aren't long-term success strategies on their own, but they can be surprisingly devastating in the short term, especially against opponents with poor adaptability.

Again, this is me just speculating and projecting based on this phenomenon that I saw many times with the Rockets this year.

 

This thread has nearly doubled in length over game 5. LOL.
I don't think anyone would have predicted it would hit 87 pages, and it will probably go 100 if game 6 is exciting.

 

That makes sense. It's just weird when you look at GSW box score. KD was awesome, Steph and Klay were good. Yet somehow they lost (in the playoffs) to Bev, Lou, and Trez. That shouldn't happen.

If I had to guess, I'd say that they also had the attitude of "we should win" and when KD got rolling they just expected it to happen. When LAC didn't just roll over and accept their beating, it threw GSW a bit.

 

Wow. I would assume their team knows this info.

If the rockets lose to them in the playoffs for a fourth time. I’ll never get over it. Just like the jazz with Malone and Stockton denying Olajuwon a chance to play Jordan in the Finals.

 

How does Klay’s attitude not catch more flack? What a loser! I respect KD more than him in this series, seriously.

 

their defense also isn't what it used to be either. It's not just for the playoffs either. that's been true for the entire season. a lot of teams have adjusted and implemented in their own right to how the rockets exploit them.

 

Oh, I don't doubt that as well. That plus what I said all contributes to "inevitability of winning" syndrome. Every team is still an NBA team. In fact right now, every team is at least one of the top 8 teams in either conference. In fact, the Clippers are the 8th best team in the Western Conference, the hard conference.

The Phoenix Suns had the second worst record in the league this year (19-63), but here's a list of eventual playoff teams they beat with their seedings listed:
Spurs (7W), Bucks...TWICE, home and away (1E, best in league), Celtics (4E), Magic (7E), Nuggets (2W), and finally Warriors at Oracle (1W). And they came close to beating the Rockets 2/3 times.

Champions treat every opponent with respect.

 

We’re officially in the “Are the Clippers a tougher test than the Rockets?” timeline.

Also is Lillard a top 5 player after getting past the first round?

If there’s one thing we’ve gone backwards on, it’s responsible journalism. Clicks drive everything and nothing gets you clicks like crazy hot takes.

Also when all else fails...slander Harden.

 

Count me in as one of the idiots that went to bed after the Rockets (and Astros) and almost fainted when I saw the score this morning on my phone....

Never would have predicted this.

 

I stayed up for it, but there’s a price to be paid, and I’m paying it now. ;-)

 

Clippers played with all heart and the arrogant Warriors didn't. Loving this defeat on their home court.

 

I watched the second half. It was a FT parade for KD, Curry and Thompson did their thing, but Harrell destroyed them on monster dunks over and over and the Clippers were poised and attacked and hit their shots.

I think points in the paint and bench points were the big factors for LAC.

 

Ditto. Can confirm, have fallen asleep on 3 conference calls today.

 

Guess I’m luckier than you. I’ve been retired for several years now. I can’t take naps, though, and the older i get, the earlier I seem to wake up. So I’m hurtin’ regardless. Still worth it. ;-)

 

Warriors have no Rim protection!

Bogut is washed!

Harden gonna feast without Gobert shutting down the paint!

 

Yeah, I stayed up too despite having to wake up around 5:20 this morning. I just got a power nap at lunch, but I'm still exhausted. And I've got tickets to Endgame tonight at 6, so I'll be in a darkened theater for nearly 3 1/2 hours. Although reportedly there are no post-credits scenes, so that should shave off an extra 10 minutes that I'd otherwise have to sit through.

 

Dude. I have a cold and should have gone to bed by the time Fallon started, but when I saw the score of this game I had to tune in.

In a way I'm lucky because I could drag ass a little later in to work (but not much). Any time the Dubs lose in the playoffs it is a reason for rejoicing. All those douchy GSW fans and bandwagoners......(Otto from "A Fish Called Wanda": "Dis-ap-POINT-ed!!!!")

 

YASSS! Get ready for the posters, Andrew, if you even get past the Clips. LOL.

 

To be fair, refs also helped a bit. Foul on Iggy when the ball bounced off of Lou's leg was a backbreaker. Another foul called on Iggy when he didn't even touch Lou while he was shooting. Clips might not win without Marc Davis, but as I said on twitter, it's karma for all the opponents' injuries and moving screens Warriors' championships are based off of.