Hoops Habit
Fansided

2016 NBA Playoffs: The Deciding Factor In Each First Round Series

By Gerald Bourguet

May 27, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the fourth quarter in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Rockets 104-90 to advance to the NBA Finals. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the fourth quarter in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Rockets 104-90 to advance to the NBA Finals. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 9
Next
NBA Playoffs
Nov 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) reacts after a basket as Portland Trail Blazers forward Ed Davis (17) watches during an NBA game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Portland Trail Blazers

Reintegrating Griffin

At their best, the Los Angeles Clippers are a championship-caliber team. As has been the case for years now, Chris Paul might have been an MVP candidate were it not for the otherworldly seasons from guys like Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard or Russell Westbrook. J.J. Redick is having a career year at age 31, DeAndre Jordan is as effective as ever and even Austin Rivers serves a purpose these days.

The Portland Trail Blazers are a dangerous team on the nights when Damian Lillard and/or C.J. McCollum get hot, but over the course of a seven-game series, it’s more likely that the youth and inexperience of Rip City catches up with them, even with Terry Stotts being a legitimate Coach of the Year candidate.

Live Feed

4 Trae Young trades the Hawks should consider
4 Trae Young trades the Hawks should consider /

FanSided

  • These NBA stars might switch teams sooner rather than later All U Can Heat
  • 3 of the most overpaid players on the LA Clippers' roster Clipperholics
  • LA Clippers are healthy and should be back on NBA Championship watch Sir Charles In Charge
  • 1 advantage the Warriors have over each Pacific Division team FanSided
  • Trading for this player covers the Clippers' biggest weakness Clipperholics

    • However, with Blake Griffin only playing in five games since returning from a 45-game absence due to a quadriceps injury, a hand injury and a suspension, we don’t really know what kind of team the Clippers will be in the postseason.

    Without Griffin, the Clippers rebuilt their high caliber offense around Chris Paul’s brilliance as a floor general, the constant alley-oop threat that DeAndre Jordan provides rolling to the basket off of screens and the perimeter presence of guys like Redick and Jamal Crawford that could knock down the long ball.

    With Griffin back in the mix, the Clippers may not enjoy that same kind of spacing, even if Griffin is clearly a superstar who can hit midrange jumpers and bait defenders into helping before finding Jordan for easy alley-oops. In any case, Griffin’s return being right before the playoffs leaves a lot up in the air.

    If Los Angeles can’t find its groove, that could open the door for a hungry and young team with nothing to lose like the Blazers. Most people projected this team to finish near the bottom of the West, and though Lillard probably never saw it that way, this team should just be happy to even be here.

    In the end though, Portland’s youth and perimeter shooting will only have a chance as long as the Clippers struggle to reintegrate Blake Griffin. If/when that happens, look out.

    Prediction: Los Angeles Clippers in 6 games

    Next: Hawks vs. Celtics