Daily NBA Fix: Clippers Fall Apart Again, OKC Thunder Rise To Occasion
By Ben Gibson
For three games in a row now the Los Angeles Clippers have been on the wrong end of the scoreboard as their late-game play has failed them.
As much as some things feel like an inevitability in the NBA, Kevin Durant and the Thunder as well are showing the Western Conference will be incredibly tough to survive.
Durant showed up when it mattered most for Oklahoma City Monday night as he not only knocked down the game-winning shot, but also blocked Chris Paul‘s attempt on the other end in a 100-99 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Is Kevin Durant back? It sure is looking like it.
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All of that was part of a crazy ending that saw four lead changes in route to Durant’s late game heroics.
Durant may have had the last few moments, but it shouldn’t be ignored that Russell Westbrook led the way with 33 points on Monday.
It seems like eveyone finds a way to criticize the Thunder and Westbrook’s approach to the game, for whatever reason, but at 19-9, I’m guessing that doesn’t really matter to Oklahoma City. Westbrook’s somewhat unconvential style as a point guard is something that is working more often than not for the Thunder, and it certainly worked Monday.
It was surprising to see coach Billy Donovan draw up a 3-pointer for Westbrook considering he was 1-of-4 from 3-point range at that point, and a career 30.4 percent shooter from deep, but nonetheless it worked for the Thunder.
For all the efforts of Durant and Westbrook, this was just another late game collapse for the Los Angeles Clippers. It is something that has happened before this season, but that current three-game losing streak highlights those issues.
Whether it has been their own failure to score or allowing their opponent to, like they did with Damian Lilliard on Saturday, the Clippers’ end-game woes are strangely continuing.
Despite this happening more often than not, especially lately, coach Doc Rivers brushed of the concern according to Ben Bolch of the L.A. Times.
"Clippers Coach Doc Rivers did not seem overly troubled, cheerfully whistling as he rounded a corner to speak with reporters after the game.“I know we’re going to be good and I haven’t changed that at all,” Rivers said of his perception of his team. “But we have to play good too. While you’re figuring it out in the West, you’re losing games.”"
At 16-13, you have to start wondering if something has been figured out about Doc Rivers team. This sort bend-but-don’t-break-oh-crap-we-broke defense and disappearing offense both on the road and now at home late in games isn’t going to help them avoid the Golden State Warriors or the Thunder when the playoff seeds are set.
This can’t be blamed on the bench either; this is something Doc and the starters have to sort out.
San Antonio Spurs Finish Off Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers were hanging around for most of the game, but the San Antonio Spurs showed that they’re still a heartless, well-oiled machine as they put away the Pacers late in a 106-92 victory.
What might have been more impessive than the way they finished was limiting Paul George to just seven points on the night. That’s a little surprising, but when you are the NBA’s best defense right now with a 92.8 defensive rating, a full five points better per 100 possessions than the next best in the league, you’re going to shut down stars from time to time.
Despite all the numbers and wins that tell you this team is great, they are somehow quietly the second-best team in the Western Conference and possiblity the best candidate to knock off the Warriors.
Wall Sets New Career-High In Assists
It was fitting that John Wall set a new personal best of 19 assists in a 113-99 victory over the Sacramento Kings. It was a down-right Rajon Rondo performance against the man himself, who is leading the NBA with 11.1 assists per a game.
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The Wizards are still a bit of a train wreck right now, but if they have more games like this they have a shot at getting back into the playoff hunt.