2014 - 2015 NBA Record
211 – 179 @ 54% for +14.1 Units
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2014 - 2015 NBA Playoffs Record
9 – 10 @ 0% for -2.0 Units
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#1: Houston Rockets -7
I didn’t think the Clippers had a chance to win game 1 without Chris Paul, but they proved me, and many others, wrong. Of course their 16-point win is a bit deceiving. If you look at the actual gameplay, the game was close throughout. It was a 1-point game with a little over 7 minutes left in the game and the average lead was actually +0.6 HOU throughout the whole game. Remember, as sluggish and as disinterested as Houston looked in this one, the game was actually very close for the most part. And the Rockets did look very sluggish and very disinterested. I would even describe them as ‘lazy’ at times. How can a team that ranks 6th in Offensive Rebounding only get 6 offensive-rebounds in the whole game, with no player getting more than 1? How can a team that ranks as 6th best at getting to the FT-line only gets 6 FT-attempts from James Harden? And how can a team commit 24 turnovers against an LA team that is missing it’s best on-the-ball defender in Paul? I truly believe that Rockets came into game 1 thinking that it’ll be an easy victory. After all, they dispatched Dallas with ease, and knowing that Chris Paul is out, game 1 looked to be pretty ‘easy’ as well. Well it wasn’t, and once Houston started the game with a lethargic effort, they couldn’t discover that ‘intensity’ necessary to win in the playoffs. Clippers ended up winning the game, though I don’t believe they are a ‘better’ team without CP3. LA’s performance was a bit fluky too as this team shot 42% from the 3PT line and had an eFG% of 57% in this one. They were -10 in PIP, -13 in points off turnovers, and -12 in FBP’s – yet still won the game. Austin Rivers shot 4-6 from the 3PT line, Jamal Crawford went 3-8, and Matt Barnes went 3-6. None of them are ‘that’ good of shooters. Blake Griffin was sensational in game 1 but how long can he keep playing 40+ minutes and take on the “CP3” role on the team in addition to his usual responsibilities of scoring and rebounding? But the most important factor in that game was the play of James Harden. I’m not sure why but he looked disinterested and played without any passion. Maybe he saw on his Twitter feed that Wojnarowski was reporting that Curry was the league MVP and not him, and got depressed ;) No idea, but Harden lacked the fire and the desire to dominate in game 1. Hard to see such a poor effort out of him in such a crucial spot tonight. Clippers already got ‘home court edge’ back and did what most road teams try to accomplish in the first 2 games of a series – they got a split. Now it’s up to the Rockets to make sure they don’t drop 2 home games to this Paul-less and this depth-less Clippers squad. I expect a much different outcome tonight.
Good Luck