2015 Playoffs: (3) LA Clippers vs. (6) San Antonio

[[Q]]

Chris Paul back into the game with the buzzer beater!!!!

[benji]

rip danny green

[Patr1ck]

What a game!

[NovU]

Unfortunately the fight wasn't as good as the game 7, lol. But I kinda foresaw there was going to be a rematch between the two. It's coming I tell ya.


As for the topic, WHAT A GAME! I am happy for CP3. He and Blake carried the team despite no depth whatsoever.

Kawhi. So much for the next superstar in line. Disappointing season outside of DPOY award which he didn't really deserve.

[deihatein]

blake griffin doing a nate robinson impersonation at the end

[[Q]]

Did we just watch the greatest playoff series of all time??


fyi that 3 point call was bullshit. That's the first time I've ever seen the ref call that on an intentional foul. and a questionable make up call at the end giving duncan those free throws to tie it. glad the clippers finally overcame these bad calls from the refs.

[I Hate Mondays]

fyi that 3 point call was bullshit. That's the first time I've ever seen the ref call that on an intentional foul

I've never seen those 3 point fouls happening exactly in front of the refs, lol. I think it would've been worse if no foul was called. At least it was the right decision

[[Q]]

Well yeah they always call the foul and say it's on the ground. It should have been side out for the spurs since the clips had a foul to give. They never give the 3 free throws even if players like Chris Paul correctly predict that they will get intentionally fouled.

CP3 was pissed and came down and hit the 3 to end the quarter. This was one of the best playoff performances of all time. his play in the whole series was just masterful

[Andrew]

Frustrating as it must've been for the Clippers, Manu made the savvy play there. Doc Rivers' whining about it in his interview to open the fourth quarter was kind of...well, bratty. It was a bit rich coming from the guy coaching one of the most notorious floppers in the league. Rivers has been whining a bit lately, and I have to admit, that had me cheering for the Spurs in a series where I was more or less impartial up until that point. I'm guessing he's A-OK with what happened at the end there, with the buzzer. Popovich handled that rather disgraceful piece of "home court advantage" with the uttermost class in his post-game press conference; Rivers likely would've cried his way to a fine over it.

It's a shame, because I actually enjoy seeing the Clippers competitive after years of being an NBA punchline. I respect what Rivers has accomplished as a coach, but for me, his complaints and hypocrisy are undermining a feel-good story.

Now, having said that...what a game! That's what you want a Game 7 to be, and it caps off one of the best first round series we've seen. I think you can still make a case for the Bulls/Celtics clash in 2009, with all its overtimes and clutch shots, but as far as having two great teams squaring off, this one certainly has the edge and then some. A gusty performance by CP3, ice water in his veins to win the game...all the superlatives, metaphors, cliches, and whatever else you want to throw out there, that's arguably the game of his career. Blake Griffin wasn't too shabby either, racking up a triple double. And on the other side, you've got Tim Duncan, still defying Father Time. Big shot after big shot by both teams.

Yes, it's a shame this couldn't have been the Western Conference Finals, or at least a second round meeting. But I'm still glad it turned out to be such a great series, with an epic finish. With some of the other series left to play, we should still see some great games. Even if none of them top this one though, does it matter? We still got this one, and the best game of the Playoffs isn't always going to be in the later rounds, or the NBA Finals. The only way to ensure that would be to rig the Playoffs, and from all the hand-wringing and conspiracy talk, I rather get the impression people wouldn't care for that. Gotta take it as it comes. Hopefully there's some exciting moments left, but for now, we got a great series with a tremendous ending.

Hats off to the Spurs for all they've done; if this is the end of the road, they went down fighting. If this is a passing of the torch moment for the Clippers, let's see what they can do from here on out.

[Mandich]

CP3 is amazing and I'll never stop saying it.
it doesn't really matter what round it is since one team is eliminated.
I see them easily getting past the Rockets.

[Patr1ck]

As long as cp3's hamstring heals, or he can play through it, they can ride this momentum against the Rockets.

[NovU]

I don't know about momentum but it'll be fatigue and residue imo that will be a downside in game 1 against the Rockets. CP3 only has 1 day to heal up. I really hope he plays tomorrow.

[Andrew]

It's the old debate of fatigue vs. freshness, rest vs. rust. We've seen it go both ways in years gone by; I agree the biggest factor is whether or not CP3 is good to go in Game 1, as his absence is obviously something that the Rockets can capitalise on. If he can at all go, I can't imagine him sitting it out.

[koberulz]

Well yeah they always call the foul and say it's on the ground. It should have been side out for the spurs since the clips had a foul to give. They never give the 3 free throws even if players like Chris Paul correctly predict that they will get intentionally fouled.

Untrue. Chris Paul got exactly that call in the final seconds of the fourth quarter on December 17, 2008, playing for the Hornets. Against the Spurs. The foul was committed by Manu Ginobili.


EDIT: Even better, here's the video!

phpBB [video]

[deihatein]

The video reminded me of this:

phpBB [video]

[Andrew]

The video reminded me of this:

phpBB [video]

Ugh, that was terrible.

[[Q]]

Well yeah they always call the foul and say it's on the ground. It should have been side out for the spurs since the clips had a foul to give. They never give the 3 free throws even if players like Chris Paul correctly predict that they will get intentionally fouled.

Untrue. Chris Paul got exactly that call in the final seconds of the fourth quarter on December 17, 2008, playing for the Hornets. Against the Spurs. The foul was committed by Manu Ginobili.


EDIT: Even better, here's the video!

phpBB [video]

That was before the refs caught on and they basically made it an unwritten rule That those fouls are on the ground. Kinda like how Kobe and Durant cheated defenders with that swing through move, before refs started calling them non shooting fouls.

[NovU]

I too hate awarding 3 freethrows in that situation especially since the foul was actually generated before shooter's feet leaving the ground. Who knows if the guy was going to pass if not fouled. The shooter probably makes his mind while in the air whether to release a shot or pass depending on contact.

[koberulz]

And that isn't true of other shooting fouls?

[NovU]

I guess the difference is that we know the players wouldn't normally shoot from 50 ft away.

[Patr1ck]

It shouldn't be about what we know. If the shooter is quick enough to start their shooting motion before getting fouled then they should be awarded the foul shots.

[koberulz]

Precisely. If you're going to let the refs judge whether or not to allow free throws based on whether it was a good shot or not, where do you draw the line?

[Murat]

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