Clippers Make Raptors Extinct

The Los Angeles Clippers (46-23) took care of business tonight defeating the Toronto Raptors (27-42) 115-96 at Amalie Arena in Tampa Florida. This was a much easier win against these same Raptors when LAC faced them last week at Staples Center. Toronto was out pretty much all of their best players, including Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, and thankfully Fred VanVleet who absolutely killed them last time. So, they had to start basically their B-squad. The Clippers were in control from beginning to end, never allowing the opposition to ever take a lead.

The Clippers showed the suffocating defense they are capable of by only allowing the Raptors to score 19 points in the first and third quarters, and less than a 100 for the game. This was a feel-good easy win that should help the Clippers find their groove going into the postseason. There are now only 3 games left in the regular season, so hopefully they can keep it rolling and go into the playoffs feeling good about themselves.

STAR OF THE GAME

Kawhi Leonard and his 20 points on 6 out of 10 shooting, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. The last time these two teams faced each other Kawhi was not very assertive offensively and only took 6 shots for the game. That was not the case tonight, as it was he who took the reigns and took it upon himself to personally get LAC out ahead. He missed his only 3 point attempt, but he was 8 for 8 from the free throw line, He helped the team as a whole to be perfect from there for the game as they went 26 for 26. Kawhi looked good early against his former team, and was able to get so rest late due to it.

BIGGEST CONCERN

Again the turnovers. The team had 16 for the game. That is not an outright outrageous amount, but it is still too much. Many of them were just from players being careless, or trying to be overly fancy. They were trying to make Sportcenter’s Top 10 and make their inferior opponent look foolish, rather than just make the fundamental play. Resulting in them looking foolish themselves. Coach Ty Lue even burned a timeout after Rondo tried to make an impossible pass off the backboard that did not work out. They need to knock that crap off, and just stick to making the solid basketball play.

SURPRISE CONTRIBUTION

Terance Mann and his 20 points on a perfect 7 for 7 from the field to go along with a rebound, 2 assists, and a steal. Not only was he as efficient from the field as you can possibly get, Mann got his 20 points in just 20 minutes. If you score a point per minute played, you are having a terrific game. Mann had not been getting much run of late, so he took it upon himself to make up for the time not played by being the standout performer of the night. He had several highlight reel dunks, and a made 3. Hopefully coach Lue can find some playing time for him in the playoffs, because Mann is the man.

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