Los Angeles Clippers Entering Franchise-Altering Game 7

On Sunday, May 17, there will be no venue more important than the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. A series will conclude No. 3 seed Los Angeles Clippers and No. 2 seed Houston Rockets will battle in Game 7.

The reason: it’s now or never, do or die, boom or bust and every other cliched way to say that it’s win or blow it all up for the Clippers.

Just breathe.

Less than 48 hours ago, the Clippers completed one of the most shocking collapses in NBA Playoffs history. Up by as many as 19 points in the third quarter, Los Angeles did what it does best: found a way to lose.

L.A. fell 119-107 on their home court.

It was a gut-wrenching defeat that saw the Rockets outscore the Clippers 40-15 in the fourth quarter with James Harden riding the pine for a full 11 minutes.

Thus, the narrative remains: Chris Paul and the Clippers alike cannot get over the hump.

Fortunately, Game 7 has yet to be played and all of this could be rendered meaningless if Los Angeles finds a way to pull out the series win. It’s worth noting that it’s already defied the odds this postseason with a pair of road wins against the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.

After falling apart at the seams in Game 6, one simply can’t help but wonder if Los Angeles has enough left in the emotional and mental tank to close out the series.

A Violent Defeat

The Houston Rockets didn’t storm back to win Game 6 behind the efforts of James Harden or Dwight Howard; it was led by Corey Brewer and Josh Smith. That’s not hyperbolic.

In the biggest game of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul‘s respective careers, they were dominated in the fourth quarter—at home—by Brewer and Smith.

That’s as tough a pill to swallow as any.

In the fourth quarter alone, Brewer scored 15 points and Smith tallied 14. It was a dominant and decisive run during which Brewer scored as many fourth quarter points as the Clippers managed as a team.

Ugly doesn’t do it justice. This was a visceral loss that tore the Clippers and their fan base apart from the inside out.

For as far as Los Angeles appears to have come, Game 6 requires one to ask an all-too-familiar question: when will it end?

May 15, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) walks off the court after the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game six of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder won 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

A Familiar Feeling

Throughout Chris Paul’s franchise-saving tenure, the Los Angeles Clippers have projected the look of a genuine contender. Once the pressure mounts and the opportunity to reach the Conference Finals arises, however, it all falls apart.

Even with a former NBA champion head coach, the results haven’t changed.

The Clippers have never once made a Conference Finals appearance. That’s quite troubling for an organization that made its NBA debut as the Buffalo Braves in 1970-71.

45 years after their arrival, the Clippers are still waiting to arrive.

May 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) leaves the court following the 119-107 loss against the Houston Rockets in game six of the second round of the NBA Playoffs. at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Los Angeles has made three Western Conference Semifinals appearances in the past four years, which is a step in the right direction. Prior to this stretch, it had won two postseason series in franchise history.

Three series wins in four seasons after two series wins in 40 present a massive sign of improvement.

Unfortunately, Los Angeles is stuck in the middle as a team that’s good enough to contend, but not great enough to cash in. That could all change against the Rockets in Game 7, but it’ll take a monumental mental effort.

Whether it’s a two-point lead or a 50-point advantage, Los Angeles must sprint through the finish line.

Sprint Through the Finish Line

In all outings but Game 5, it’s been perfectly clear that the Los Angeles Clippers are a better team than the Houston Rockets. Houston has needed miracle runs and Doc Rivers prematurely pumping the brakes to win games, while Los Angeles has simply outclassed the opposition.

In Game 7, the Clippers need to run faster than Usain Bolt once it sees the finish line.

Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have dominated this series, and even in Game 6, Houston didn’t have an answer. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter, when Griffin appeared physically and mentally exhausted, that it was able to make a run.

The Clippers cannot afford to let that happen again.

If Los Angeles fails to close this series out, it’ll be half-past time to blow the team up. Three second-round exits in four years and a first-round dismissal in the other paint a picture of inadequacy.

Knowing that CP3 has never once reached the Conference Finals, Los Angeles must look at the roster with a measure of doubt if it fails to reach the plateau once again.

Blame is irrelevant at this stage, but fingers will need to be pointed come the summer of 2015 if Los Angeles can’t win Game 7. This roster was built to contend, but it’s only been good enough to entertain.

In one game that shouldn’t have been necessary, the Los Angeles will see the future of the organization flash before its very eyes.

Can the Clippers finally get over the hump?

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