April 9, 2025 • 40 mins
The Clippers currently sit in the 4th seed after a win over the Spurs at Intuit Dome. Adam’s got a full game recap, postgame quotes, and the thoughts on Clipper Nation in the chat, and on the phone lines.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Phoning in.
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This is Clippers Talk on Aaron.
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On Demand, the Clippers Show of Record, your chance to
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Clippers Clippers news happens. Let me guess it's about Kawhi.
Here we are and now here.
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He is the host of your LA Clippers pre and postgame.
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At follow Adam a Adam Osley.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
And then there were three just three games left in
the regular season. After the Clippers win one twenty two
to one seventeen over the San Antonios first tonight, hear
it into it home as they have won fifteen of
their last eighteen games and are playing their best ball
this season leading into the playoffs. Welcome in. I'm out
of OSLMS. This is Clippers Talk. Eight seven seven five
(00:46):
two zero eleven fifty eight seven seven five two zero
eleven fifty is the phone number if you want to
get on or just get in the chat at Clippers
Talk on the YouTube side. We're with you for the
next forty five minutes. Here. This Clippers team didn't have
Kawhilin did a show on that yesterday. I was under
the impression that would be wise to not play Kawhi
(01:07):
against San Antonio because you could need him for his
full thirty eight plus minutes against Houston tomorrow night. Now
Houston may be resting guys because they have the two
seed wrapped up. We'll see, but that was my thinking.
Yesterday we heard from coach Lou pregame about Kawhi and
(01:28):
what the reasoning was why he played the last back
to back and why he's not playing this back to back,
and it sounded like the difference was they knew after
he played on Saturday, the second night of a back
to back against Dallas. Here it into a home that
they could get him three days off. They could get
him at least two days off, but then you turn
(01:49):
it into three and now you play every other day
the remainder of the season on tomorrow for Kawhi against Houston,
off Thursday, on Friday in Sacramento, off Saturday, on Sunday
up in San Francisco gets Golden State, and that is
how the playoffs typically go. You're often playing every other day.
(02:15):
So in essence, it might be able to get Kawhi
Leonard and even more of a rhythm of what to
expect in the playoffs and get his body prepared for that.
Clippers currently in the four spot in the Western Conference. Guys,
they are in a four way tie where they shoot
to the top of it, above Denver, Golden State and
the Memphis Grizzlies. The Minnesota Timverwolves dropped to eight after
(02:39):
they gave up a thirty nine to eight run in
the last ten minutes in Milwaukee tonight to lose that
game to the Bucks. A consequential loss dropped them all
the way back into the plane, and that helped catapult
the Clippers to the four spot. Currently. My understanding is
if the Clippers went out and Denver loses a ballgame,
(03:04):
the Clippers will end up as the four seed. At
least they would need multiple losses from the Lakers to
end up in the three spot. Lakers in Dallas tomorrow
night after losing in OKAC tonight where Lukadantis was ejected
for talking to a fan. I'm sorry, but that stuff
is soft. I don't know why an official would make
that about them. Maybe he said the magic words. I
(03:28):
don't know. Uh, I'm not really concerned about it. Go
Dallas tomorrow, Go Sacramento Kings tomorrow, where the Denver Nuggets
will be Go Clippers tonight, and they did. They would
go on to win once twenty two to one seventeen.
It wasn't easy, though, there were consequences. Even in a
(03:50):
win No. One. Powell had to play forty one minutes
to get it finish with twenty five My player to watch.
I thought he would get up at least fifteen shots
without Kawhi Leonard. He looked to be in rhythm for
the most part. He had nine of his twenty five
in the fourth quarter and a huge rebound offensive rebound
put back for him. Great to see little hustle plays
like that from some of the smalls. James Harden had
(04:12):
one of those two. Avitza Zubas had to play almost
thirty nine minutes tonight. James Harden had to play almost
thirty eight. The Calvary is on the way in Kawhi Leonard.
But some of these guys are definitely gassed and they're
gonna need Kawhi to pick him up tomorrow against Houston
(04:35):
because San Antonio they just would not go away. I
don't even think it's so much the Clippers played poorly
San Antonio. The Spurs were hitting shots, and you can
go back to the opening quarter of this one, the
Clippers went three minutes and ten seconds without scoring a point.
(05:01):
The Spurs went on a seven to zero run to
go up eighteen to sixteen midway through that first quarter.
After it looked like the Clippers were in control early on,
but Stefon Castle hit a three pointer CP three baseline
fade away over zoo seven oh Spurs run eighteen sixteen.
Clippers ended up missing I think five straight shots turned
(05:24):
into a nine zero Spurs run. Got worse for the Clippers.
Harden finally had the and one. Those would be their
first points over three minutes of going scoreless for the Clippers,
but two went hit a three pointer, Hardwin hit a
three pointer. Norm got a reverse layup to go near
the end of the first quarter and the Clippers led
by just two at twenty eight to twenty six. Couldn't
(05:47):
create any distance there then in the second quarter, San
Antonio was leading throughout much of it throughout much of
that second quarter, and the Clippers got really sloppy with basketball.
There were some self inflicted wounds. They had a runout
off a steal on a bogie pass thirty eight thirty
six Spurs, another turnover the very next possession, but tomb
(06:10):
pass thirty nine thirty eight Spurs. There was a James
Harden long outlet passed to Derek Jones Junior that went
over his head out of bounds. Just sloppy play from
the Clippers. Meanwhile, the Viza Zubats was doing his part
out there, but the Clippers had seven turnovers in the
(06:31):
second quarter alone. Norman Powell missed two free throws in
the second quarter. Sometimes the wall is that effective. There's
some friendly fire because San Antonio chose to go up
go up against the wall in the second half, so
Norm missed those two free throws going up against the wall.
Not that they were cheering against him or anythink. It
just happens. The Clippers went five minutes and ten seconds
(06:57):
in the second quarter, scoring four points. At one point
it was a thirteen to four Spurs run during that time.
The Clippers eventually were able to take control. Near the
end of the second dun would hit a three pointer,
who has been hot from three as of late, shooting
(07:23):
over forty eight percent from the outside his last ten games.
Chris Dunn, as he was two to four in this
game from three CP three, would hit a three to respond,
though on the second, no one would go to the
free throw line, knocked down a couple, and the Clippers
(07:44):
eventually went on a nine to two run the last
two fifteen to end the half and put themselves up
two at fifty four to fifty two, after trailing by
as many as five in the first half. Those turnovers
were a problem. That's why they couldn't and gain much
separation then. But the other problem was Harrison Barnes. He
(08:08):
had thirteen points. He led all scores through the first
twenty four minutes. He was three or five from the outside.
The Spurs were shooting fifty four percent in the first half.
They weren't missing. They were seven of eighteen from three,
just like the Clippers. They did have ten turnovers. Meeting
the Clippers there pretty much Clippers were nine at the half.
(08:31):
Third quarter, norm Pal started off hot, hit a jumper
fifty six to fifty two, Clippers Norm three fifty nine
to fifty two. Quick time out, Dunn creates a steal
off a deflection on vsell out of bounds in the
far side corner. It was an incredible defensive play. Dunn
had a few of those in this ballgame. Chris A.
(08:52):
Dunn really flex in the defensive muscles with three steals.
He is such a special defense. After a zoo floater,
Clippers are on a nine to zero run. Once Hard
knocked down a floater two and it's sixty five fifty two.
After DJ got in transition for a layup, he would
(09:16):
end up scoring six straight for the Clippers. Another layup
going left on CP three, then a hardened lob to DJ,
and it's sixty nine to fifty five with six straight
points from Derreck Jones Junior, who ended up in this game,
gained the start and gained them eighteen points, just one
to five from three, but eight to fifteen from the
(09:37):
field and was really good with eight of his eighteen
in the third. Done would then cause a back court
violation and the Clippers are off to a fifteen to
three start in the third where they hit their first
eight shots. After a Hard and three pointer made it
(09:59):
seventy two to fIF fifty five. The Spurs San Antonio
had four turnovers in the first three minutes of the
third quarter. Clippers defense came out and was suffocating the
Clippers first miss of the third guys. Their first misshot
came in about the seven to forty mark. It was
an eighteen to three run before Harrison Barnes of course
(10:21):
hit a three pointer after starting eight for eight, though
the Clippers would then shoot one for their next eight
from the field and san Antonio continued to chip away.
Castle almost dunked on Aviza Zubas something fierce Stefan Castle
(10:42):
as a stud. He has All Star potential, maybe even
in a higher ceiling than that. He's one of the
better players in this league. He's likely going to win
Rookie of the Year. He was in the dunk contest
and almost had his best dunk of the season on
a Viza Zubos. He would end up getting fouled instead.
(11:04):
It's seventy eight seventy one Clippers and Bogey hits a
baseline fallaway. Some timely shots from bo Don Bogdanovitch, wouldn't
you know Zoo offensive rebound and put back eighty two
to seventy one. Dj have put back off his own
miss eighty four to seventy one Clippers after only being
up by seven, going a six to zero run up thirteen,
(11:28):
Castle and one Spurs would battle back again get it
to within nine. Castle went to the line, missed the second,
but he had nine of his eventual nineteen points in
that third quarter. Was getting active. It was eighty six
seventy eight Clippers late in the third. Then Bogey hit
(11:49):
a three off Norm falling to the ground and making
that pass to him. Champenny missed a layup for the Spurs.
On the other end, Nico had a nice tip board
bog he Goes left for an easy layup and the
Clippers lead heading into the fourth ninety one to seventy eight.
Thought that would be it. It looked like Coach Lou
(12:11):
was going for the kill shot to start the fourth
quarter when Nico hit a three pointer and his lineup
was Zuu, Simmons, Bogie, Btoom and Norm keeping Zoo out there.
But then Norm had a turnover Harrison Barnes three man
twenty four for Harrison Barnes on eight of ten, shooting
(12:31):
six of eight from three. Incredibly, after a Johnson layup,
it's a nine point game. They just continued to stay
within striking distance. Zuo had a bad turnover to Harrison Barnes,
but then Norm would hit a big three pointer and
make it one on one to eighty seven. Little bit
(12:53):
of a cushion timeout. San Antonio Basel would hit a
three though out of that time out when James Harden
came back out onto the floor one on one to
ninety Castle and one after a Simmons Ben Simmons bad
turnover looking for Norm, Zoo came in for Simmons. Shortly afterwards.
(13:15):
Castle then airballed the free throw. Least that's what it
looked like from section twenty five. He completely aired the
free throw going up against the wall. After an and one,
Norm layup going left one oh three to ninety. This
has got to be it, right. Norm had scored their
last seven points at that time. In the fourth quarter,
(13:40):
Doune comes in for Nico after he got crossed up
Mamu Kells Billy ended up hitting a three pointer on
that and now you got done Zubots hardened Bogie and
pale on the floor. Zoo, after it looked like CP
three taking it away, took it back and got a
(14:01):
bucket over him. Castle driving dunk on hard and going
baseline one oh five to ninety seven. It's an eight
point game, but then a done miss three led to
and I think this was one of the most critical
shots in the ball game. A done miss three pointer
badly led to a Norman pal rebound and put back
(14:24):
that made it a ten point lead. And then Chris
Dunwoin hit a three pointer, hardened floater, hardened three pointer,
and san Antonio is waving the white flag as the
Clippers are up one fifteen to ninety seven after a
quick ten to oh run in less than two minutes,
Clippers go on to win evel with san Antonio's backups
(14:46):
knocking down some three pointers, one twenty two to one seventeen.
Hear it into it Dome, Clippers over the Spurs. We'll
be right back here tomorrow night. We'll take a quick
time out, we'll come back. We'll get to your phone
calls at eight seven seven five two zero eleven fifty
eight seven seven five two zero eleven fifty. I'm at
(15:06):
a Mazland and you're listening to the Los Angeles Clippers
audio network in the Patriot anbleven fifty.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
I love this team. I never miss a game.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
You're listening to LA Clippers basketball free ball, Yes, sir,
right here on the LA Clippers Audio Network.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Clippers win one twenty two to one seventeen over the
San Antonio Spurs. Here it into it Dome. I'm at
a Maslin Clippers are one fifteen of eighteen and they
are currently in the fourth spot in the West with
just three games remaining. Gonna be with you guys eight
seven seven five two zero eleven fifty eight seven seven
five two zero eleven fifty. Let's go to Aaron leaving
(15:45):
the ballgame. Aaron, what's up here on clipperstock?
Speaker 5 (15:49):
How's it going?
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Adham?
Speaker 4 (15:52):
Oh, I'm good now, as good as the Clippers. But
I'm doing all right.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
I would this was my first time at the into
a dome, phenomenal arena, and I just want to say,
I don't think we win this game tonight. If Zoo
doesn't have the game that he did, I mean, he
was unbelievably efficient, and I just think the way Santonio
was hanging around. If he doesn't have that game, I
(16:19):
think we lose that game.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Do you agree? I agree with you, Aaron. It's a
great point. With out of eats Zubats being that steady
force out there getting to twenty four and twenty boards
and eight offensive rebounds, they lose this game. They needed
those thirty eight minutes from Viats to Zubots.
Speaker 5 (16:38):
And one more question what do you think we need
to go the last three games to avoid.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
The play in?
Speaker 5 (16:44):
What do you think we need to finish well?
Speaker 4 (16:47):
It's a good question, Aaron. I appreciate the phone call.
If they win the last three, they will at least
avoid the play in. At worst, they would then be
in the sixth spot. If they win the last three
games at work, and it might be after the loss
from Minnesota, it might have a chance to be at
(17:08):
worse than the five spot after this. I gotta consult
Justin Russo, who knows everything. You can tell who the
new listeners are that don't understand when we're at into
it DM, I'm sorry you guys can't hear the callers.
When we're back in Burbank, you can. Matt Man and
Warren points out from Talking Shit podcast Zoo belongs on
(17:28):
an All Defensive team and James D. Harden belongs on
an All NBA third team. I think it beats the Zubots.
Might have a case for an All NBA third team
as well. He's definitely making an All defensive team. I'm
not even worried about that. He's being talked about for
Defensive Player of the Year by a lot of the
talking heads. Now he may finish top three, it's possible.
(17:54):
I don't think he's gonna win it. I think it'll
be Dort or Draymond or Evan and Mobile. But maybe
Zeus sneaks into being top three. That would be great
to see. Who else do we got in here? In
the chat? Clippers win only by five. I know, guys,
(18:16):
but they were up eighteen with just a few minutes left.
San Antonio was knocking down some crazy shots of this
ball game. Tip of the cap to the Spurs. They
kept playing hard. Get well, Greg Popovich, the Spurs are
completely headed in the right direction, with a situation where
(18:37):
they could have sustained success for like a ten year run,
maybe seven years. We always overexaggerated run. But they're that good.
They're impressive, playing hard out there and pushing the Clippers
in this ball game to have to eventually shut the
door with that little ten er run. Maddix said, Adam,
(19:01):
can the Clippers get to the finals? In your opinion?
I feel like Maddicks asked me this all the time.
I feel like you might be a bot, but AI
Boston need love to and I'll show some love to them. Sure,
with a healthy Kawhi Leonard, they have an opportunity, they
have a puncher's chance, they draw the right matchups. Yeah,
(19:24):
I think this Clippers team is good enough with the
defense they have shown and how good they've been on
the offensive end last seventeen games heading into this one,
believe they were first in net rating. At worst they
were second. That's contender type stuff, meaning once Kawhi kick
things into gear with looking like Kawhi Leonard again. They
(19:47):
have similar advanced metrics to the Thunder, the Celtics, the
Calves everybody who's playing well right now, like that's where
they've been at bench would out score the Clippers bench
fifty two to twenty eight in this one, and the
Clippers do win despite the Spurs shooting fifty three percent
from the field and forty one percent from three, but
(20:10):
the Clippers ended up getting up eight more shots than
San Antonio. That was a big differentiator. Clippers also had
sixty points in the paint and nineteen second chance points.
Those nineteen second chance points on nine of sixteen shooting there.
That was big. That's what I'm talking about with those
offensive rebounds, where the Clippers had fourteen of them, crucial.
(20:34):
They led by as many as eighteen, and by the way,
eight of the fourteen offensive rebounds came from Big Zoo
Norn Powell had nine of his game high twenty five
points in the fourth quarter. Clippers had five players score
eighteen or more clips were plus sixteen in the rebounding department.
(20:55):
Love seeing that statistician Chris Taylor handing me these notes
a little bit earlier. Joey Kimball also always helping out
if eats a zoubats. His season high in offensive rebounds
was ten. And then it happened against San Antonio earlier
this season, in the twenty six point comeback here and
into a dome, their first victory here at into a dome.
(21:19):
I think they're twenty nine and seven now and into
a dome after starting off oh to four. Believe that's
the number. Seems good. Seems like a team that could
really use home court in the first round, which, hey,
three weeks ago, seemed like a pipe dream. They've gotten
(21:40):
some other teams to finally fall back a little bit.
The Warriors have actually lost a game. Minnesota just lost
the game tonight. The Denver Nuggets are three and seven
their last ten. The Lakers lost tonight. Memphis had been
losing a little bit more. Some teams have fallen back,
(22:02):
and the Clippers are taking advantage of it. Winners of
fifteen of eighteen. They've been playing some of the best
basketball anybody has all season long at the right time.
Last season, when they had that twenty six and five run,
it spanned from like the midway point of December through January,
(22:25):
maybe a little bit of February, but then they hit
the skids after the All Star break, as they did
this season. And then last year Kawhi ended up getting
hurt with the knee flaring up. They weren't playing like
this heading into the playoffs. They weren't this hot. A
(22:48):
lot of people in here saying this is our year.
Some people like cap Ross said this season's team is
better than last season's team. Zoo and norm have improved
hard and is better than orders. The second option Kawhi
is Kawhi, and the bench is deeper this season. It's
hard to disagree with that. The defense is significantly better.
(23:08):
I think they finished sixteenth in defensive rating last season,
their second this season.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
And.
Speaker 4 (23:18):
When you look at how the offensive numbers have been
over the last eighteen games. Now well, they're a top
offense when they're fully healthy with Kawhi playing at this level.
I said back in November, this is all about maintaining
that level of defense while getting Kawhi back and turning
(23:45):
into a completely different offensive team that is a top
ten offense. Well, they've been even better in that the
last month and a half now, and you guys can
look back at some of the bad losses. I get it.
I try out to hang on to that stuff because
like the twenty three point loss of the Phoenix Suns
(24:05):
that never should have happened. You know, maybe because of
a loss like that, it fires them up and James
Harden to have fifty points the very next game. And
that is the line of demarcation, or the point where
the Clippers had a turning point in the season. Coach
lu was asked about a pregame it's from that point
(24:28):
on they played eighteen games and have gone fifteen to
three since that Phoenix loss. So sometimes some of your
failures you learn from them because something was exposed in
a loss and it actually helps you in the long run.
That loss can turn into some victories down the line
(24:49):
that you otherwise might not have gotten because of those
lessons you learned along the way. The real treasure is
the friend we have friends we've made along the way.
I'm not saying I love the losses, and there are
some regrettable ones this season, the Pacers big comeback on
the Clippers losing both those games against the Lakers in
(25:11):
that weekend series at Crypto when they were in both
of them. But I'm not gonna look back or go
too far down that path. They're in the fourth spot.
They can win the next three games and at least
(25:32):
guarantee they're out of the plan. Easier said than done.
We'll see what happens with Houston tomorrow night. But they
got some guys on the injury list. They may not
be going for it now. They clinched that two seed
that could be in the Clippers favor, And so is
this Kawhi Leonard expected to play, expected to be back
(25:53):
tomorrow night. This was a situation where they were keeping
him out on the front end of back to back
I think wisely. I know a lot of people were saying, no,
Kawhi needs to play every game. I said, guys, if
they lost to San Antonio without Kawhi Leonard, I wouldn't
come out postgame and say should have played Kawhi. I
(26:15):
would have said they blew it. They had enough to
win and they found a way to lose the game.
So I wouldn't be second guests seeing that decision. I
said pregame, I think it's the right decision. If they lose,
(26:35):
I'm not saying it's because they didn't have Kawhi. I'm
saying this because they didn't play well enough, because they
had plenty. They had more than enough to win this game,
and they did. One twenty two to one seventeen. Clippers
over the San Antonio Spurs. We'll take a quick time out.
We'll come back. Also, postgame quotes for you guys eight
(26:56):
seven seven five two zero eleven fifty eight seven seven
five to zero eleven fifty amount of Mazzland. And you're
listening to Clippers talk here in the Patriot Ame eleven fifty.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
I love this team. I never miss a game.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
You're listening to LA Clippers basketball free ball, Yes, sir,
right here on the LA Clippers Audio Network.
Speaker 4 (27:16):
Clippers win one two, one seventeen over the San Antonio Spurs,
and they hop up into the fourth spot as they
leap frog over the Denver Nuggets tonight. They have the
same record as the Nuggets, the Warriors, the Memphis Grizzlies.
Due to some insane tie breakers, the Clippers are ahead
(27:37):
of those teams in the fourth spot. It is tenuous
they need to continue to win, but it was good
to see them figure it out when they needed to.
In around the three minute mark where they went on
that ten ozer run against San Antonio tonight, and the
score looks a lot closer than the game actually was.
(28:00):
We're up by eighteen. Late in the fourth, san Antonio
called off the Dogs and some of their backups knocked
down some three pointers on the Clippers. No, morm Pwal
did have to play forty one minutes. If viatz zubats
thirty nine Harden thirty eight, that's taxing that. You know,
san Antonio took some skin off him that can come
(28:21):
back to hurt them against Houston tomorrow. But we're all
expecting Kawhi Leonard to be playing in that game. They
just held him out of the first game of back
to back and it makes sense to do so against
San Antonio. As I had said leading into this game,
they had lost seven of eight. They don't have much
to play for. They still played hard out there. I
(28:42):
like the way they competed. But here's what coach Lou
said at the half, when the Clippers only led by two.
He told the Clippers this at the half, quote, we're
playing for something. We have a chance to do special things.
We can't mess round with this game. They went on
(29:03):
a run. They led by thirteen, hanging inso the fourth
things I think got down to an eight point lead,
but then the Clippers eventually got up by eighteen and
put them away. Tyleru on into a dome when the
Clippers potentially having home court advantage in the playoffs, quote,
we have our own building. We don't have to worry
about other banners hanging up. We don't share an arena.
(29:26):
This is home. The wall has been great, our fans
have been great. We got to continue to keep building
on it. Unquote. How special would it be to have
home court in the first round of the playoffs in
your first season opening up this arena? Hear it into
(29:48):
a dome in Inglewood. That would just be incredible. Because
the home court advantage is real. Teams are missing free
throws at a high rate. Here the wall is working
the dream. The vision of Steve Valmer has been brought
to life with this home court advantage the Clippers have.
(30:13):
Noran Powell postgame says the Clippers are a championship caliber team. Quote.
We have unwavering belief and what we can do and
what we can achieve with everybody healthy and everybody playing
the brand of basketball we want. I think we can
make a deep playoff run and get to the finals
and win a championship. I think this is a championship
built team. He's been there, He's seen what it looks like.
(30:37):
He won with Kawhi and Toronto in twenty nineteen. Those
words have weight. I'm glad to see that the guys
are setting the expectations in the bar. Norm Powell said, quote,
I think this is a championship built team. Lawrence Frank
(30:59):
did this staying under the first apron. If you didn't
know he cooked this summer, if you've been hating on him,
if you didn't like the fact that he traded Terrence
Man to get Bogie because he struggled at first, how
about now did it not make sense? Look at Bogie
in this game with nineteen off the bench, seven of
(31:21):
eleven shooting two of three from the outside. He is
shooting over fifty percent from three his last twenty two games.
Vote Don Bogdanovich hits some big points in the fourth
quarter for the Clippers. Coach Lou also said this about
the Clippers attacking home court advantage in the playoffs. Quote,
(31:42):
We're just taking it one game at a time. From
where we come from and now where we're at. From
where we come from and now where we're at, we
just want to get in. If we are able to
get home court, that would be very special, especially with
how we're playing at home. Coach Lou also said this
(32:03):
about James Harden, who told him he felt quote stuck
in mud in the first half, but eventually got going
in the second half. Despite it. James Harden had twelve
assists to three turnovers his last two games. He has
Good Lord twenty six assists to five turnovers. Going back
(32:27):
to Saturday night when he had fourteen assists to two turnovers.
He wasn't the guy turning it over tonight, and it
wasn't anybody in particular, but Norm had three, Zuo had two,
Nico had two. Uncharacteristically, Jordan Miller had two. At the
very end. So really, the Climbers had fifteen turnovers, those
(32:50):
two by Jordan Miller at the very end of the game.
Inconsequential completely, Clippers went one twenty two to one seventeen
over the San Antonio Spurs final time out. We'll come back.
I'll get back into the chat and back to some
phone calls here, Mike in La is online, clay Von
(33:13):
is online. The problem is, Clayvon, they won't be able
to hear you in the chat. You gotta do it.
You gotta call in for me when I'm back in
Burbank and out into it Dome. I want them all
to hear you. You know that. For it up. Then,
I'm Adam Maslin, and you're listening to Clippers talk here
on the Patriot eight eleven to fifty.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
I love this team. I never miss a game.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
You're listening to LA Clippers Basketball free ball, Yes, sir,
right here on the LA Clippers Audio Network.
Speaker 4 (33:42):
Clippers win one twenty two to one seventeen over the
San Antonio Spurs here and into a dome. I'm bet
A Maaslin. We'll be back here tomorrow night. Clippers taking
on the Houston Rockets team they went zero and three
against without Kawhi Leonard this season. He'll be back tomorrow
for that one. We'll see who plays for the Houston Rockets.
Because they have locked up the two seed and they
have some guys on the injury report, they may start
(34:04):
sitting some guys. Clippers didn't play their best tonight. San
Antonio had some hot shooting seventeen or forty two from
the outside. Harrison Barnes went six of eight from three
with twenty four points, and they fought, and I like
their competitive spirit, and this is a team that moving
(34:27):
forward next season, they could be a top four seed
in the Western Conference. San Antonio could be that good.
They could have a quick turnaround like that. Carlo I
think brought it up in the pregame show. But they
could be next year's Houston. I thought coming into this
season the Houston Rockets potential was at best around six
or seven. Well, they've exceeded those expectations because their defense
(34:50):
was fantastic all year long and their offense has been
coming around. They still struggle with their half court offense,
but they got athletes. Javari Smith Junior went down. I'm
in Thompson kind of ascended after that. Now they're healthy
for the most part, they've been playing well. I don't
think any team wants to see them in the first round.
(35:12):
And the Clippers are currently in the four spot. So
that whole seven to eight playing situation, Yeah, if they
could drop a couple of games, they could be right
in there. Clippers could be right back in there, I
should say. But today it was the Minnesota Timberwolves giving
up a thirty nine to eight run I believe in
(35:32):
the fourth quarter in the last ten minutes to Milwaukee
and losing that game and sliding all the way down
into the eighth spot from that one loss. So it's
a reminder, a cautionary tale that you can't slip up
this time of the year. They let go of the
(35:53):
rope and blew a game they shouldn't have. They were
up big in by twenty four. The Clippers have to
be cognizanto that they have to come in with the
same fight that we saw in Spurts tonight, but with
the same way they've been playing overall since Kawhi came
back and has been at this level. That's what I
(36:13):
want to see against Houston, for them to continue to
build good habits and patterns that are going to translate
to the playoffs. But it's also not just about process
right now. It is about results. You just have to win, period.
(36:34):
And if the Clippers win the last three, I think
it worse. They might be in the fifth spot. Now,
somebody's got to crunch the numbers because tiebreakers being involved
make this extremely chaotic and convoluted. But I know they
need a lot of help with the Lakers losing to
(36:54):
get all the way up to three, but four does
seem very attainable. My understanding is if Denver loses a
game and the Clippers went out, and Denver has three left,
just like the Clippers. Let's say the Nuggets lose Tomorrow
night to the Kings and the Clippers went out, I
believe they'd be in the four spot at worst, with
(37:18):
an outside shot the three. But they're gonna need the
Lakers to lose maybe all three, at least two of
their last three because they have the tiebreaker over the Clippers.
Lakers have Dallas Tomorrow night, Nuggets, and Sacramento. We're rooting
for the Kings, We're rooting for the Mavericks there, but
(37:41):
the Clippers have to handle their own business. If Houston
is resting guys, and I'll give you the updated injury
report as I saw a few guys on it for
them earlier, and it makes sense the Lakers losing to Okay.
See that told you the Houston Rockets magic number was
one a victory or Lakers loss. To wrap up the
(38:04):
two spot. Shngon questionable, Javari Smith Junior questionable, fed Van
Vliet doubtful. I'm assuming at least one or two of
these guys are not playing tomorrow, so it could be
another no excuses game, even though second time been back
to back. You got Kawhi back in fresh after three
days off. Get them the ball and get out of
(38:27):
the way. Let Kawhi cook like he has been. Let
him lead you. James, you're a little bit tired. You
played thirty eight minutes. Cool, Give it to Kawhi beats
the Zubas thirty nine minutes. Give it to Kawhi, Norm
Palette forty one, give it a claw. Let him be
(38:48):
the hero. If you're tired tomorrow, you should have plenty
in the tank. Then you get a day off. Then
you're in Sacramento Friday, get a day off Sunday in
San Francisco against Golden State, and yes, it could all.
It will all come down to that game. Something will
be on the line. I don't know if the winner
of that game or the loser will end up in
(39:10):
the play in, but something will be on the line
that game against Golden State. On Sunday to close out
the season, people were saying the Rockets arresting Clippers will win.
Rockets have some guys in a mindset. Also, they're very competitive.
(39:30):
In Meo dooka good head coach. They're tough. We'll have
your pregame show starting at six thirty, tip off at
seven thirty. Outside of Los Angeles. I do want to
thank the Clippers. Excuse me, outside of the Los Angeles
we were leaving you until then, and you know even
in LA we're leaving you until then. Now, but before
we get out of here, I do want to thank
(39:51):
the Clippers organization. Ralph Lawler, Brian Seman, Noah Igo, Carlo Jimenez,
big brother, Jake Warner, our head engineer here at in
to It Dome, Joey Kimball and Chris Taylor are statisticians.
Back in the bank. Daniel West, we'll talk to you
guys tomorrow at six thirty Clippers and Rockets.
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At follow Adam a Adam Osley.
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And then there were three just three games left in
the regular season. After the Clippers win one twenty two
to one seventeen over the San Antonios first tonight, hear
it into it home as they have won fifteen of
their last eighteen games and are playing their best ball
this season leading into the playoffs. Welcome in. I'm out
of OSLMS. This is Clippers Talk. Eight seven seven five
(00:46):
two zero eleven fifty eight seven seven five two zero
eleven fifty is the phone number if you want to
get on or just get in the chat at Clippers
Talk on the YouTube side. We're with you for the
next forty five minutes. Here. This Clippers team didn't have
Kawhilin did a show on that yesterday. I was under
the impression that would be wise to not play Kawhi
(01:07):
against San Antonio because you could need him for his
full thirty eight plus minutes against Houston tomorrow night. Now
Houston may be resting guys because they have the two
seed wrapped up. We'll see, but that was my thinking.
Yesterday we heard from coach Lou pregame about Kawhi and
(01:28):
what the reasoning was why he played the last back
to back and why he's not playing this back to back,
and it sounded like the difference was they knew after
he played on Saturday, the second night of a back
to back against Dallas. Here it into a home that
they could get him three days off. They could get
him at least two days off, but then you turn
(01:49):
it into three and now you play every other day
the remainder of the season on tomorrow for Kawhi against Houston,
off Thursday, on Friday in Sacramento, off Saturday, on Sunday
up in San Francisco gets Golden State, and that is
how the playoffs typically go. You're often playing every other day.
(02:15):
So in essence, it might be able to get Kawhi
Leonard and even more of a rhythm of what to
expect in the playoffs and get his body prepared for that.
Clippers currently in the four spot in the Western Conference. Guys,
they are in a four way tie where they shoot
to the top of it, above Denver, Golden State and
the Memphis Grizzlies. The Minnesota Timverwolves dropped to eight after
(02:39):
they gave up a thirty nine to eight run in
the last ten minutes in Milwaukee tonight to lose that
game to the Bucks. A consequential loss dropped them all
the way back into the plane, and that helped catapult
the Clippers to the four spot. Currently. My understanding is
if the Clippers went out and Denver loses a ballgame,
(03:04):
the Clippers will end up as the four seed. At
least they would need multiple losses from the Lakers to
end up in the three spot. Lakers in Dallas tomorrow
night after losing in OKAC tonight where Lukadantis was ejected
for talking to a fan. I'm sorry, but that stuff
is soft. I don't know why an official would make
that about them. Maybe he said the magic words. I
(03:28):
don't know. Uh, I'm not really concerned about it. Go
Dallas tomorrow, Go Sacramento Kings tomorrow, where the Denver Nuggets
will be Go Clippers tonight, and they did. They would
go on to win once twenty two to one seventeen.
It wasn't easy, though, there were consequences. Even in a
(03:50):
win No. One. Powell had to play forty one minutes
to get it finish with twenty five My player to watch.
I thought he would get up at least fifteen shots
without Kawhi Leonard. He looked to be in rhythm for
the most part. He had nine of his twenty five
in the fourth quarter and a huge rebound offensive rebound
put back for him. Great to see little hustle plays
like that from some of the smalls. James Harden had
(04:12):
one of those two. Avitza Zubas had to play almost
thirty nine minutes tonight. James Harden had to play almost
thirty eight. The Calvary is on the way in Kawhi Leonard.
But some of these guys are definitely gassed and they're
gonna need Kawhi to pick him up tomorrow against Houston
(04:35):
because San Antonio they just would not go away. I
don't even think it's so much the Clippers played poorly
San Antonio. The Spurs were hitting shots, and you can
go back to the opening quarter of this one, the
Clippers went three minutes and ten seconds without scoring a point.
(05:01):
The Spurs went on a seven to zero run to
go up eighteen to sixteen midway through that first quarter.
After it looked like the Clippers were in control early on,
but Stefon Castle hit a three pointer CP three baseline
fade away over zoo seven oh Spurs run eighteen sixteen.
Clippers ended up missing I think five straight shots turned
(05:24):
into a nine zero Spurs run. Got worse for the Clippers.
Harden finally had the and one. Those would be their
first points over three minutes of going scoreless for the Clippers,
but two went hit a three pointer, Hardwin hit a
three pointer. Norm got a reverse layup to go near
the end of the first quarter and the Clippers led
by just two at twenty eight to twenty six. Couldn't
(05:47):
create any distance there then in the second quarter, San
Antonio was leading throughout much of it throughout much of
that second quarter, and the Clippers got really sloppy with basketball.
There were some self inflicted wounds. They had a runout
off a steal on a bogie pass thirty eight thirty
six Spurs, another turnover the very next possession, but tomb
(06:10):
pass thirty nine thirty eight Spurs. There was a James
Harden long outlet passed to Derek Jones Junior that went
over his head out of bounds. Just sloppy play from
the Clippers. Meanwhile, the Viza Zubats was doing his part
out there, but the Clippers had seven turnovers in the
(06:31):
second quarter alone. Norman Powell missed two free throws in
the second quarter. Sometimes the wall is that effective. There's
some friendly fire because San Antonio chose to go up
go up against the wall in the second half, so
Norm missed those two free throws going up against the wall.
Not that they were cheering against him or anythink. It
just happens. The Clippers went five minutes and ten seconds
(06:57):
in the second quarter, scoring four points. At one point
it was a thirteen to four Spurs run during that time.
The Clippers eventually were able to take control. Near the
end of the second dun would hit a three pointer,
who has been hot from three as of late, shooting
(07:23):
over forty eight percent from the outside his last ten games.
Chris Dunn, as he was two to four in this
game from three CP three, would hit a three to respond,
though on the second, no one would go to the
free throw line, knocked down a couple, and the Clippers
(07:44):
eventually went on a nine to two run the last
two fifteen to end the half and put themselves up
two at fifty four to fifty two, after trailing by
as many as five in the first half. Those turnovers
were a problem. That's why they couldn't and gain much
separation then. But the other problem was Harrison Barnes. He
(08:08):
had thirteen points. He led all scores through the first
twenty four minutes. He was three or five from the outside.
The Spurs were shooting fifty four percent in the first half.
They weren't missing. They were seven of eighteen from three,
just like the Clippers. They did have ten turnovers. Meeting
the Clippers there pretty much Clippers were nine at the half.
(08:31):
Third quarter, norm Pal started off hot, hit a jumper
fifty six to fifty two, Clippers Norm three fifty nine
to fifty two. Quick time out, Dunn creates a steal
off a deflection on vsell out of bounds in the
far side corner. It was an incredible defensive play. Dunn
had a few of those in this ballgame. Chris A.
(08:52):
Dunn really flex in the defensive muscles with three steals.
He is such a special defense. After a zoo floater,
Clippers are on a nine to zero run. Once Hard
knocked down a floater two and it's sixty five fifty two.
After DJ got in transition for a layup, he would
(09:16):
end up scoring six straight for the Clippers. Another layup
going left on CP three, then a hardened lob to DJ,
and it's sixty nine to fifty five with six straight
points from Derreck Jones Junior, who ended up in this game,
gained the start and gained them eighteen points, just one
to five from three, but eight to fifteen from the
(09:37):
field and was really good with eight of his eighteen
in the third. Done would then cause a back court
violation and the Clippers are off to a fifteen to
three start in the third where they hit their first
eight shots. After a Hard and three pointer made it
(09:59):
seventy two to fIF fifty five. The Spurs San Antonio
had four turnovers in the first three minutes of the
third quarter. Clippers defense came out and was suffocating the
Clippers first miss of the third guys. Their first misshot
came in about the seven to forty mark. It was
an eighteen to three run before Harrison Barnes of course
(10:21):
hit a three pointer after starting eight for eight, though
the Clippers would then shoot one for their next eight
from the field and san Antonio continued to chip away.
Castle almost dunked on Aviza Zubas something fierce Stefan Castle
(10:42):
as a stud. He has All Star potential, maybe even
in a higher ceiling than that. He's one of the
better players in this league. He's likely going to win
Rookie of the Year. He was in the dunk contest
and almost had his best dunk of the season on
a Viza Zubos. He would end up getting fouled instead.
(11:04):
It's seventy eight seventy one Clippers and Bogey hits a
baseline fallaway. Some timely shots from bo Don Bogdanovitch, wouldn't
you know Zoo offensive rebound and put back eighty two
to seventy one. Dj have put back off his own
miss eighty four to seventy one Clippers after only being
up by seven, going a six to zero run up thirteen,
(11:28):
Castle and one Spurs would battle back again get it
to within nine. Castle went to the line, missed the second,
but he had nine of his eventual nineteen points in
that third quarter. Was getting active. It was eighty six
seventy eight Clippers late in the third. Then Bogey hit
(11:49):
a three off Norm falling to the ground and making
that pass to him. Champenny missed a layup for the Spurs.
On the other end, Nico had a nice tip board
bog he Goes left for an easy layup and the
Clippers lead heading into the fourth ninety one to seventy eight.
Thought that would be it. It looked like Coach Lou
(12:11):
was going for the kill shot to start the fourth
quarter when Nico hit a three pointer and his lineup
was Zuu, Simmons, Bogie, Btoom and Norm keeping Zoo out there.
But then Norm had a turnover Harrison Barnes three man
twenty four for Harrison Barnes on eight of ten, shooting
(12:31):
six of eight from three. Incredibly, after a Johnson layup,
it's a nine point game. They just continued to stay
within striking distance. Zuo had a bad turnover to Harrison Barnes,
but then Norm would hit a big three pointer and
make it one on one to eighty seven. Little bit
(12:53):
of a cushion timeout. San Antonio Basel would hit a
three though out of that time out when James Harden
came back out onto the floor one on one to
ninety Castle and one after a Simmons Ben Simmons bad
turnover looking for Norm, Zoo came in for Simmons. Shortly afterwards.
(13:15):
Castle then airballed the free throw. Least that's what it
looked like from section twenty five. He completely aired the
free throw going up against the wall. After an and one,
Norm layup going left one oh three to ninety. This
has got to be it, right. Norm had scored their
last seven points at that time. In the fourth quarter,
(13:40):
Doune comes in for Nico after he got crossed up
Mamu Kells Billy ended up hitting a three pointer on
that and now you got done Zubots hardened Bogie and
pale on the floor. Zoo, after it looked like CP
three taking it away, took it back and got a
(14:01):
bucket over him. Castle driving dunk on hard and going
baseline one oh five to ninety seven. It's an eight
point game, but then a done miss three led to
and I think this was one of the most critical
shots in the ball game. A done miss three pointer
badly led to a Norman pal rebound and put back
(14:24):
that made it a ten point lead. And then Chris
Dunwoin hit a three pointer, hardened floater, hardened three pointer,
and san Antonio is waving the white flag as the
Clippers are up one fifteen to ninety seven after a
quick ten to oh run in less than two minutes,
Clippers go on to win evel with san Antonio's backups
(14:46):
knocking down some three pointers, one twenty two to one seventeen.
Hear it into it Dome, Clippers over the Spurs. We'll
be right back here tomorrow night. We'll take a quick
time out, we'll come back. We'll get to your phone
calls at eight seven seven five two zero eleven fifty
eight seven seven five two zero eleven fifty. I'm at
(15:06):
a Mazland and you're listening to the Los Angeles Clippers
audio network in the Patriot anbleven fifty.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
I love this team. I never miss a game.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
You're listening to LA Clippers basketball free ball, Yes, sir,
right here on the LA Clippers Audio Network.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Clippers win one twenty two to one seventeen over the
San Antonio Spurs. Here it into it Dome. I'm at
a Maslin Clippers are one fifteen of eighteen and they
are currently in the fourth spot in the West with
just three games remaining. Gonna be with you guys eight
seven seven five two zero eleven fifty eight seven seven
five two zero eleven fifty. Let's go to Aaron leaving
(15:45):
the ballgame. Aaron, what's up here on clipperstock?
Speaker 5 (15:49):
How's it going?
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Adham?
Speaker 4 (15:52):
Oh, I'm good now, as good as the Clippers. But
I'm doing all right.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
I would this was my first time at the into
a dome, phenomenal arena, and I just want to say,
I don't think we win this game tonight. If Zoo
doesn't have the game that he did, I mean, he
was unbelievably efficient, and I just think the way Santonio
was hanging around. If he doesn't have that game, I
(16:19):
think we lose that game.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Do you agree? I agree with you, Aaron. It's a
great point. With out of eats Zubats being that steady
force out there getting to twenty four and twenty boards
and eight offensive rebounds, they lose this game. They needed
those thirty eight minutes from Viats to Zubots.
Speaker 5 (16:38):
And one more question what do you think we need
to go the last three games to avoid.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
The play in?
Speaker 5 (16:44):
What do you think we need to finish well?
Speaker 4 (16:47):
It's a good question, Aaron. I appreciate the phone call.
If they win the last three, they will at least
avoid the play in. At worst, they would then be
in the sixth spot. If they win the last three
games at work, and it might be after the loss
from Minnesota, it might have a chance to be at
(17:08):
worse than the five spot after this. I gotta consult
Justin Russo, who knows everything. You can tell who the
new listeners are that don't understand when we're at into
it DM, I'm sorry you guys can't hear the callers.
When we're back in Burbank, you can. Matt Man and
Warren points out from Talking Shit podcast Zoo belongs on
(17:28):
an All Defensive team and James D. Harden belongs on
an All NBA third team. I think it beats the Zubots.
Might have a case for an All NBA third team
as well. He's definitely making an All defensive team. I'm
not even worried about that. He's being talked about for
Defensive Player of the Year by a lot of the
talking heads. Now he may finish top three, it's possible.
(17:54):
I don't think he's gonna win it. I think it'll
be Dort or Draymond or Evan and Mobile. But maybe
Zeus sneaks into being top three. That would be great
to see. Who else do we got in here? In
the chat? Clippers win only by five. I know, guys,
(18:16):
but they were up eighteen with just a few minutes left.
San Antonio was knocking down some crazy shots of this
ball game. Tip of the cap to the Spurs. They
kept playing hard. Get well, Greg Popovich, the Spurs are
completely headed in the right direction, with a situation where
(18:37):
they could have sustained success for like a ten year run,
maybe seven years. We always overexaggerated run. But they're that good.
They're impressive, playing hard out there and pushing the Clippers
in this ball game to have to eventually shut the
door with that little ten er run. Maddix said, Adam,
(19:01):
can the Clippers get to the finals? In your opinion?
I feel like Maddicks asked me this all the time.
I feel like you might be a bot, but AI
Boston need love to and I'll show some love to them. Sure,
with a healthy Kawhi Leonard, they have an opportunity, they
have a puncher's chance, they draw the right matchups. Yeah,
(19:24):
I think this Clippers team is good enough with the
defense they have shown and how good they've been on
the offensive end last seventeen games heading into this one,
believe they were first in net rating. At worst they
were second. That's contender type stuff, meaning once Kawhi kick
things into gear with looking like Kawhi Leonard again. They
(19:47):
have similar advanced metrics to the Thunder, the Celtics, the
Calves everybody who's playing well right now, like that's where
they've been at bench would out score the Clippers bench
fifty two to twenty eight in this one, and the
Clippers do win despite the Spurs shooting fifty three percent
from the field and forty one percent from three, but
(20:10):
the Clippers ended up getting up eight more shots than
San Antonio. That was a big differentiator. Clippers also had
sixty points in the paint and nineteen second chance points.
Those nineteen second chance points on nine of sixteen shooting there.
That was big. That's what I'm talking about with those
offensive rebounds, where the Clippers had fourteen of them, crucial.
(20:34):
They led by as many as eighteen, and by the way,
eight of the fourteen offensive rebounds came from Big Zoo
Norn Powell had nine of his game high twenty five
points in the fourth quarter. Clippers had five players score
eighteen or more clips were plus sixteen in the rebounding department.
(20:55):
Love seeing that statistician Chris Taylor handing me these notes
a little bit earlier. Joey Kimball also always helping out
if eats a zoubats. His season high in offensive rebounds
was ten. And then it happened against San Antonio earlier
this season, in the twenty six point comeback here and
into a dome, their first victory here at into a dome.
(21:19):
I think they're twenty nine and seven now and into
a dome after starting off oh to four. Believe that's
the number. Seems good. Seems like a team that could
really use home court in the first round, which, hey,
three weeks ago, seemed like a pipe dream. They've gotten
(21:40):
some other teams to finally fall back a little bit.
The Warriors have actually lost a game. Minnesota just lost
the game tonight. The Denver Nuggets are three and seven
their last ten. The Lakers lost tonight. Memphis had been
losing a little bit more. Some teams have fallen back,
(22:02):
and the Clippers are taking advantage of it. Winners of
fifteen of eighteen. They've been playing some of the best
basketball anybody has all season long at the right time.
Last season, when they had that twenty six and five run,
it spanned from like the midway point of December through January,
(22:25):
maybe a little bit of February, but then they hit
the skids after the All Star break, as they did
this season. And then last year Kawhi ended up getting
hurt with the knee flaring up. They weren't playing like
this heading into the playoffs. They weren't this hot. A
(22:48):
lot of people in here saying this is our year.
Some people like cap Ross said this season's team is
better than last season's team. Zoo and norm have improved
hard and is better than orders. The second option Kawhi
is Kawhi, and the bench is deeper this season. It's
hard to disagree with that. The defense is significantly better.
(23:08):
I think they finished sixteenth in defensive rating last season,
their second this season.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
And.
Speaker 4 (23:18):
When you look at how the offensive numbers have been
over the last eighteen games. Now well, they're a top
offense when they're fully healthy with Kawhi playing at this level.
I said back in November, this is all about maintaining
that level of defense while getting Kawhi back and turning
(23:45):
into a completely different offensive team that is a top
ten offense. Well, they've been even better in that the
last month and a half now, and you guys can
look back at some of the bad losses. I get it.
I try out to hang on to that stuff because
like the twenty three point loss of the Phoenix Suns
(24:05):
that never should have happened. You know, maybe because of
a loss like that, it fires them up and James
Harden to have fifty points the very next game. And
that is the line of demarcation, or the point where
the Clippers had a turning point in the season. Coach
lu was asked about a pregame it's from that point
(24:28):
on they played eighteen games and have gone fifteen to
three since that Phoenix loss. So sometimes some of your
failures you learn from them because something was exposed in
a loss and it actually helps you in the long run.
That loss can turn into some victories down the line
(24:49):
that you otherwise might not have gotten because of those
lessons you learned along the way. The real treasure is
the friend we have friends we've made along the way.
I'm not saying I love the losses, and there are
some regrettable ones this season, the Pacers big comeback on
the Clippers losing both those games against the Lakers in
(25:11):
that weekend series at Crypto when they were in both
of them. But I'm not gonna look back or go
too far down that path. They're in the fourth spot.
They can win the next three games and at least
(25:32):
guarantee they're out of the plan. Easier said than done.
We'll see what happens with Houston tomorrow night. But they
got some guys on the injury list. They may not
be going for it now. They clinched that two seed
that could be in the Clippers favor, And so is
this Kawhi Leonard expected to play, expected to be back
(25:53):
tomorrow night. This was a situation where they were keeping
him out on the front end of back to back
I think wisely. I know a lot of people were saying, no,
Kawhi needs to play every game. I said, guys, if
they lost to San Antonio without Kawhi Leonard, I wouldn't
come out postgame and say should have played Kawhi. I
(26:15):
would have said they blew it. They had enough to
win and they found a way to lose the game.
So I wouldn't be second guests seeing that decision. I
said pregame, I think it's the right decision. If they lose,
(26:35):
I'm not saying it's because they didn't have Kawhi. I'm
saying this because they didn't play well enough, because they
had plenty. They had more than enough to win this game,
and they did. One twenty two to one seventeen. Clippers
over the San Antonio Spurs. We'll take a quick time out.
We'll come back. Also, postgame quotes for you guys eight
(26:56):
seven seven five two zero eleven fifty eight seven seven
five to zero eleven fifty amount of Mazzland. And you're
listening to Clippers talk here in the Patriot Ame eleven fifty.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
I love this team. I never miss a game.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
You're listening to LA Clippers basketball free ball, Yes, sir,
right here on the LA Clippers Audio Network.
Speaker 4 (27:16):
Clippers win one two, one seventeen over the San Antonio Spurs,
and they hop up into the fourth spot as they
leap frog over the Denver Nuggets tonight. They have the
same record as the Nuggets, the Warriors, the Memphis Grizzlies.
Due to some insane tie breakers, the Clippers are ahead
(27:37):
of those teams in the fourth spot. It is tenuous
they need to continue to win, but it was good
to see them figure it out when they needed to.
In around the three minute mark where they went on
that ten ozer run against San Antonio tonight, and the
score looks a lot closer than the game actually was.
(28:00):
We're up by eighteen. Late in the fourth, san Antonio
called off the Dogs and some of their backups knocked
down some three pointers on the Clippers. No, morm Pwal
did have to play forty one minutes. If viatz zubats
thirty nine Harden thirty eight, that's taxing that. You know,
san Antonio took some skin off him that can come
(28:21):
back to hurt them against Houston tomorrow. But we're all
expecting Kawhi Leonard to be playing in that game. They
just held him out of the first game of back
to back and it makes sense to do so against
San Antonio. As I had said leading into this game,
they had lost seven of eight. They don't have much
to play for. They still played hard out there. I
(28:42):
like the way they competed. But here's what coach Lou
said at the half, when the Clippers only led by two.
He told the Clippers this at the half, quote, we're
playing for something. We have a chance to do special things.
We can't mess round with this game. They went on
(29:03):
a run. They led by thirteen, hanging inso the fourth
things I think got down to an eight point lead,
but then the Clippers eventually got up by eighteen and
put them away. Tyleru on into a dome when the
Clippers potentially having home court advantage in the playoffs, quote,
we have our own building. We don't have to worry
about other banners hanging up. We don't share an arena.
(29:26):
This is home. The wall has been great, our fans
have been great. We got to continue to keep building
on it. Unquote. How special would it be to have
home court in the first round of the playoffs in
your first season opening up this arena? Hear it into
(29:48):
a dome in Inglewood. That would just be incredible. Because
the home court advantage is real. Teams are missing free
throws at a high rate. Here the wall is working
the dream. The vision of Steve Valmer has been brought
to life with this home court advantage the Clippers have.
(30:13):
Noran Powell postgame says the Clippers are a championship caliber team. Quote.
We have unwavering belief and what we can do and
what we can achieve with everybody healthy and everybody playing
the brand of basketball we want. I think we can
make a deep playoff run and get to the finals
and win a championship. I think this is a championship
built team. He's been there, He's seen what it looks like.
(30:37):
He won with Kawhi and Toronto in twenty nineteen. Those
words have weight. I'm glad to see that the guys
are setting the expectations in the bar. Norm Powell said, quote,
I think this is a championship built team. Lawrence Frank
(30:59):
did this staying under the first apron. If you didn't
know he cooked this summer, if you've been hating on him,
if you didn't like the fact that he traded Terrence
Man to get Bogie because he struggled at first, how
about now did it not make sense? Look at Bogie
in this game with nineteen off the bench, seven of
(31:21):
eleven shooting two of three from the outside. He is
shooting over fifty percent from three his last twenty two games.
Vote Don Bogdanovich hits some big points in the fourth
quarter for the Clippers. Coach Lou also said this about
the Clippers attacking home court advantage in the playoffs. Quote,
(31:42):
We're just taking it one game at a time. From
where we come from and now where we're at. From
where we come from and now where we're at, we
just want to get in. If we are able to
get home court, that would be very special, especially with
how we're playing at home. Coach Lou also said this
(32:03):
about James Harden, who told him he felt quote stuck
in mud in the first half, but eventually got going
in the second half. Despite it. James Harden had twelve
assists to three turnovers his last two games. He has
Good Lord twenty six assists to five turnovers. Going back
(32:27):
to Saturday night when he had fourteen assists to two turnovers.
He wasn't the guy turning it over tonight, and it
wasn't anybody in particular, but Norm had three, Zuo had two,
Nico had two. Uncharacteristically, Jordan Miller had two. At the
very end. So really, the Climbers had fifteen turnovers, those
(32:50):
two by Jordan Miller at the very end of the game.
Inconsequential completely, Clippers went one twenty two to one seventeen
over the San Antonio Spurs final time out. We'll come back.
I'll get back into the chat and back to some
phone calls here, Mike in La is online, clay Von
(33:13):
is online. The problem is, Clayvon, they won't be able
to hear you in the chat. You gotta do it.
You gotta call in for me when I'm back in
Burbank and out into it Dome. I want them all
to hear you. You know that. For it up. Then,
I'm Adam Maslin, and you're listening to Clippers talk here
on the Patriot eight eleven to fifty.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
I love this team. I never miss a game.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
You're listening to LA Clippers Basketball free ball, Yes, sir,
right here on the LA Clippers Audio Network.
Speaker 4 (33:42):
Clippers win one twenty two to one seventeen over the
San Antonio Spurs here and into a dome. I'm bet
A Maaslin. We'll be back here tomorrow night. Clippers taking
on the Houston Rockets team they went zero and three
against without Kawhi Leonard this season. He'll be back tomorrow
for that one. We'll see who plays for the Houston Rockets.
Because they have locked up the two seed and they
have some guys on the injury report, they may start
(34:04):
sitting some guys. Clippers didn't play their best tonight. San
Antonio had some hot shooting seventeen or forty two from
the outside. Harrison Barnes went six of eight from three
with twenty four points, and they fought, and I like
their competitive spirit, and this is a team that moving
(34:27):
forward next season, they could be a top four seed
in the Western Conference. San Antonio could be that good.
They could have a quick turnaround like that. Carlo I
think brought it up in the pregame show. But they
could be next year's Houston. I thought coming into this
season the Houston Rockets potential was at best around six
or seven. Well, they've exceeded those expectations because their defense
(34:50):
was fantastic all year long and their offense has been
coming around. They still struggle with their half court offense,
but they got athletes. Javari Smith Junior went down. I'm
in Thompson kind of ascended after that. Now they're healthy
for the most part, they've been playing well. I don't
think any team wants to see them in the first round.
(35:12):
And the Clippers are currently in the four spot. So
that whole seven to eight playing situation, Yeah, if they
could drop a couple of games, they could be right
in there. Clippers could be right back in there, I
should say. But today it was the Minnesota Timberwolves giving
up a thirty nine to eight run I believe in
(35:32):
the fourth quarter in the last ten minutes to Milwaukee
and losing that game and sliding all the way down
into the eighth spot from that one loss. So it's
a reminder, a cautionary tale that you can't slip up
this time of the year. They let go of the
(35:53):
rope and blew a game they shouldn't have. They were
up big in by twenty four. The Clippers have to
be cognizanto that they have to come in with the
same fight that we saw in Spurts tonight, but with
the same way they've been playing overall since Kawhi came
back and has been at this level. That's what I
(36:13):
want to see against Houston, for them to continue to
build good habits and patterns that are going to translate
to the playoffs. But it's also not just about process
right now. It is about results. You just have to win, period.
(36:34):
And if the Clippers win the last three, I think
it worse. They might be in the fifth spot. Now,
somebody's got to crunch the numbers because tiebreakers being involved
make this extremely chaotic and convoluted. But I know they
need a lot of help with the Lakers losing to
(36:54):
get all the way up to three, but four does
seem very attainable. My understanding is if Denver loses a
game and the Clippers went out, and Denver has three left,
just like the Clippers. Let's say the Nuggets lose Tomorrow
night to the Kings and the Clippers went out, I
believe they'd be in the four spot at worst, with
(37:18):
an outside shot the three. But they're gonna need the
Lakers to lose maybe all three, at least two of
their last three because they have the tiebreaker over the Clippers.
Lakers have Dallas Tomorrow night, Nuggets, and Sacramento. We're rooting
for the Kings, We're rooting for the Mavericks there, but
(37:41):
the Clippers have to handle their own business. If Houston
is resting guys, and I'll give you the updated injury
report as I saw a few guys on it for
them earlier, and it makes sense the Lakers losing to Okay.
See that told you the Houston Rockets magic number was
one a victory or Lakers loss. To wrap up the
(38:04):
two spot. Shngon questionable, Javari Smith Junior questionable, fed Van
Vliet doubtful. I'm assuming at least one or two of
these guys are not playing tomorrow, so it could be
another no excuses game, even though second time been back
to back. You got Kawhi back in fresh after three
days off. Get them the ball and get out of
(38:27):
the way. Let Kawhi cook like he has been. Let
him lead you. James, you're a little bit tired. You
played thirty eight minutes. Cool, Give it to Kawhi beats
the Zubas thirty nine minutes. Give it to Kawhi, Norm
Palette forty one, give it a claw. Let him be
(38:48):
the hero. If you're tired tomorrow, you should have plenty
in the tank. Then you get a day off. Then
you're in Sacramento Friday, get a day off Sunday in
San Francisco against Golden State, and yes, it could all.
It will all come down to that game. Something will
be on the line. I don't know if the winner
of that game or the loser will end up in
(39:10):
the play in, but something will be on the line
that game against Golden State. On Sunday to close out
the season, people were saying the Rockets arresting Clippers will win.
Rockets have some guys in a mindset. Also, they're very competitive.
(39:30):
In Meo dooka good head coach. They're tough. We'll have
your pregame show starting at six thirty, tip off at
seven thirty. Outside of Los Angeles. I do want to
thank the Clippers. Excuse me, outside of the Los Angeles
we were leaving you until then, and you know even
in LA we're leaving you until then. Now, but before
we get out of here, I do want to thank
(39:51):
the Clippers organization. Ralph Lawler, Brian Seman, Noah Igo, Carlo Jimenez,
big brother, Jake Warner, our head engineer here at in
to It Dome, Joey Kimball and Chris Taylor are statisticians.
Back in the bank. Daniel West, we'll talk to you
guys tomorrow at six thirty Clippers and Rockets.
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