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The Clippers just defeated the Dallas Mavericks in a close contest which came right down to the wire before the Clippers pulled away 99-93. Here are 5 things to take from this game:
19 points and 5-8 shooting from three point range. The LA Clippers have been winning a lot. And a lot of the credit has gone to the starters and Jamal Crawford. The tribe called bench has been credited appropriately, but there’s one player who deserves a lot more credit than he has been getting. Matt Barnes came in to LA after he and Chris Paul had a conversation where Barnes told Paul he wasn’t certain if he would be a Laker the coming year. Paul replied “You’re gonna be a Clipper.” Not to doubt the Nostradamus Paul, but I doubt if even he predicted the impact which Barnes was going to have. Today the Clippers were down to the Mavericks and they turned it around in the second half. Barnes has had numerous 20 point games for the Clippers this season and he says they aren’t even having to run plays for him, he just gets the ball in good spots what with the way this team is construed.
In the third quarter with 13 seconds left, Paul was fouled in the act of shooting a three. But the referees ruled that it wasn’t in the act of shooting. As time was about to run out Paul drove in and passed it out to Barnes and with seconds tricking away, Barnes drained a three. Then he stared at the official who had bungled the call as if to say “Ball don’t lie!” The Clipper comeback was thanks to in part to Barnes’ threes and his tenacious defense which helped turn the tide of the game. With 5 seconds left, Barnes caught on to the loose ball from the Mavericks
The Clippers are one of the best teams in the NBA right now. They have been pummeling opponents left, right and center. And the Dallas Mavericks came in oblivious to all that, they played like a team which means business. Earlier in the season, without Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks weren’t at the top end of anyone’s list for this season. But now as the big man is back, the Mavericks are starting to gel together. And its showing. Even though they didn’t win this one, they held the lead for a good length of the game. Their new backcourt is playing a huge part in that, OJ Mayo and Nick Collision both played 37 minutes, finishing with 17 and 22 points respectively. They need Dirk to have better than a 5-13 shooting night for 15 points for them to win consistently though.
George Karl has said that Chris Paul ought to be defensive player of the year. The Clipper comeback was fueled by a bunch of steals from Chris Paul. Its difficult to overstate how much Paul disrupts the offense of opponents by his constant pressure. The effect is as much as mental as actual. Bill Russel had said that the idea is not to block every shot, but to make your opponent think that you are going to block every shot. Paul finished with 16 assists to go with his 17 points. He added 2 steals and 5 rebounds, not defensive player of the year numbers perhaps but you need to see him in action to appreciate the pascals of pressure he applies on the ball night in and night out.
In the last minute with the score 97-93. The Clippers were under duress as the Mavericks were snapping at their heels. Griffin attempted another fadeaway but it rimmed out. The Mavericks could have mounted a comeback but Caron Butler corralled the offensive rebound. Then Chris Paul attempted a fadeaway and missed, but Butler grabbed the round again. In a lot of the NBA games, the game comes right down to the wire. The games are so competitive that matches are often tied or within five points with a minute or two remaining. That’s when games are won or lost with one or two deciding plays. Butler likely won’t be credited with winning this one, but his clutch plays in the end won this one for the Clippers. Offensive rebounds are priceless in the NBA, in the last minute of the game even more so.
Two fadeaway jumpers in the last four minutes. No it wasn’t Dirk Nowitzki taking fadeaways, It was Blake Griffin putting the game away. The Clippers may have more experienced closers in their squad, but they are making a conscious effort to involve Griffin in late game situations and he has been stepping up to the challenge. And its not just him getting dunks off pick and rolls, he got the ball fifteen feet away from the rim and made two fadeaways. And he followed it by drawing a foul and getting to the line for two. There wasn’t a play to get him the ball for a easy bucket, he manufactured his own shots in the waning moments to help stave off the Mavericks. He finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds, although he had 6 turnovers too. So he is still becoming the closer, he isn’t one just as yet.
The Clippers next play the Orlando Magic on 13th. That one ought to be a pushover after this tough contest today. Credit to the Mavericks who almost pulled off a stunner in LA.
Guess the Lakers players!
