The Los Angeles Clippers (45-23) lost their final home game of the season this afternoon against the New York Knicks (38-30) at Staples Center by a score of 106-100. The Clippers had a promising start to the game getting out to a 10-0 lead. Ivica Zubac then got called for a technical, which former Clipper Reggie Bullock went to the line for and made. Bullock then made 2 3 pointers in a row, going on a 7-0 run by himself. After those opening first few minutes of the game, the momentum was with the Knicks for the remaining minutes. LAC managed to win the first quarter by 3, but lost every subsequent quarter thereafter.
The Knicks showed off their much vaunted best defense in the league, masterminded by their defensive guru head coach Tom Thibodeau. They held the Clips to only 100 points on just 43% shooting for the game. The Clippers had energy despite the early start, they just could not seem to make a shot all day. They cut down on the turnovers having only 13 compared to last game’s 22. But today everyone seemed to be struggling from the field. The Clippers tried to make runs, but could not make the big shots when they needed to. They were able to keep the game close, but could not pull ahead in the end. Allowing the Knicks to get revenge for the previous L they took against them earlier in the season back at Madison Square Garden.
The Clippers only have 4 games left in the season to try and cement themselves where they currently sit at 3rd place in the Western Conference. All 4 of those games are against teams (the Raptors, Hornets, Rockets, and Thunder) that are all currently below .500. So even being on the road I expect the Clippers to take all 4 and get back into a winning groove going into the playoffs.
STAR OF THE GAME
People will say I should give it to Derrick Rose and his 25 points on 11 out of 17 shooting off the bench, but I refuse to give any credit to a rapist. So I am going to give it to former Clipper Reggie Bullock and his 24 points on 8 out of 17 from the field, including 5 out of 12 from 3. Reggie has come a long way from his days as a Clipper. He used to be an end of the bench role player, and now he is a starter on a playoff team. He looked good today, hitting big 3 pointers to help fend off any Clippers run. I liked Reggie during his time in LA, and today he made me miss him even more.
BIGGEST CONCERN
All the missed shots. Give credit to the Knicks’ defense, but still the Clippers are a better shooting team than they showed today. The playoffs are in just a few short weeks, and to have a clunker from the field like they did today does not bode well. Every time they needed to make a big shot to try and come back, they would brick it. They were even missing shots right at the rim. DeMarcus Cousins embarrassingly missed an open dunk attempt. Hopefully they can find their stroke again in these last 4 games. The teams they are facing are not good defensively, so you can expect them to do so.
SURPRISE CONTRIBUTION
Taj Gibson and his 8 points and 5 rebounds off the bench. The league has evolved in a way to where a guy with Gibson’s skill set should have all but gone extinct. However Taj is a favorite of coach Thibodeau going back to their days in Chicago. It was there where they had much success together, so he continues to find work where Coach Thibbs is at. Gibson continues to this day to play the gritty hard nose game that he is known for. He plays tough defense, and blocks out very well for rebounds. His stats may not jump off the page, but he makes plays to help you win whenever he’s out there.
Vs. Toronto Raptors, Tuesday, May 11th at 4:30PM Pacific
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THE CLIPPERS GET KNICKED THE CLIPPERS GET KNICKED THE CLIPPERS GET KNICKED
