On the back end of a back-to-back the Los Angeles Clippers (47-24) lost to the Houston Rockets (17-54) 122-115 last night at Toyota Center. The Clippers chose to rest most of their starters ( Patrick Beverley, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard) for this one, and the ones who did play ( Marcus Morris Sr., Ivica Zubac) only did so for a few minutes. Morris played 9, and Zubac played 3. Although Zubac did make his first career 3 pointer, it seemed he started the game merely to just keep his iron-man streak of consecutive games played alive. His made 3 was the height of the excitement that came during this game, as it was hard to watch. The Clips seemed content to lose. There was no defense played at all. This was the last back-to-back of the season. It makes sense to try and keep your best players rested and healthy going into the postseason.
The game was close throughout, but the lack of D cost the Clippers in the end. They ended up being defeated by the worst team in the league. Not too surprising as LAC was playing their 3rd stringers in the 4th. Whilst the Rockets still had their starters out there. Understandable in that wins have been very hard to come by all year for them. Thanks to just basically conceding this one from the start, the Clippers lost a game in the standings and now currently sit at the 4th spot in the Western Conference. They have one more game to in the regular season to try and at least get back into 3rd. 2nd now appears to be out of reach.
STAR OF THE GAME
Kelly Olynyk and his 20 points, 9 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 steals. He was one rebound shy of a triple-double. Good for him. But it came against a team that was not even trying to win, so whoop-di-doo.
BIGGEST CONCERN
Playoff positioning. I really wish the team had tried harder to actually win this game, because as it currently stands the Clippers would be facing the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. We all know how hard of an out they were last year, and the Clippers lost the season series to them 2-1. One of those losses we’d all like to forget as it was the worst one in the history of the franchise. I’d much rather them be facing the Portland Trail Blazers, as they swept them during the regular season. Hopefully Ty Lue will try a little harder to succeed on Sunday in their last game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Something tells me he will sit everyone out again though. I think the team is confident against any team that they may face. As an outside observer and fan though, I am not so confident.
SURPRISE CONTRIBUTION
Jay Scrubb and his 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals for the Clippers. Scrubb got his first points in his NBA carreer the other night, and the game ball from Ty Lue to go with it. Last night he got his first career start, and got some serious run as he played nearly 40 minutes. He looked pretty good out there. He did not shoot a great percentage for his points, as he went 6 for 16, but he did he make 2 out of 5 from 3. His name may be Scrubb, but he isn’t exactly a scrub anymore.
Next Game
Vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday May 16th at 5PM Pacific
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Written by Stewart Rau
