The Rotation: Los Angeles Clippers lose Game 4 and Chris Paul
The NBA playoffs are here. The games are tighter, the lights are brighter, and the narratives are getting thick. It can be a lot to keep up with but don’t worry we’re here to help. Throughout the NBA postseason, FanSided will be gathering together some of the most talented writers from our network for a daily recap of our favorite stories from the night before.
Welcome to the Rotation.
Down goes Chris Paul: This is what hapless looks like
Kaveh Jam | @KavehsRoom | Hardwood Paroxysm
The views from the trainer’s table in the visitor’s locker room at the Moda Center were grim to say the very least. The Los Angeles Clippers – beaten and battered – gathered around Chris Paul after their Game 4 loss as his wrist was placed in a cast and arm put into a sling. This after a first quarter where Paul kicked open the gate to the game with a bravado that felt like it was about to be one of ‘those Paul games.’
That possibility was halted, as were the Clippers hopes of advancing deep into these playoffs, on one unassuming swipe at the basketball on a Gerald Henderson drive. Paul’s right hand awkwardly caught the back of Henderson’s jersey, sending Paul to the bench, and then straight to the locker room in a truly depressing sequence.
Paul’s injury dampened a pivotal game that was already sloppy and erratic in the first half where both teams shot sub 40-percent from the field. But the injury also renders much of the minutiae of the game moot. Any deep playoff run will now need to come without one of the best point-guards in the league — an extremely tough ask for a Clipper team whose deficiencies are often masked by their assertive leader.
Even with Paul, Clippers struggled to deal with the rebounding and playmaking of Mason Plumlee for two games in Portland. For the second consecutive game, Plumlee wreaked havoc on the Clippers interior defense to the tune of another monster line — 14 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 blocks. The emergence of Plumlee as a springboard for outlet passes to set up spot-up shooters or ignite fastbreaks has been a major pain for the Clippers.
Never has a team’s fortunes turned as quickly as these Clippers have. Stephen Curry may perhaps be more valuable to his team, but he could also be back on the floor in two weeks. A day after it was learned the Golden State Warriors would likely be without Stephen Curry for at least a sizeable portion of the second round, the Clippers went from being in pole position to possibly slip into the Western Conference finals to now staring at one of the most bitter exits to a playoff campaign dead in the face.
The sudden crumbling to injury is stunning. Paul was in the midst of arguably his best season in a Clipper uniform and had been healthy the entire season. There is also a likely scenario that Blake Griffin, who suffered quad soreness in this game and is listed as questionable moving forward, may have little impact this spring. Add to that J.J. Redick who appears to still be nursing a bad heel. This is what hapless looks like.
Goonies never say die (and neither do the Blazers)
Nathan Heck | @nathanheck22 | Pelican Debrief
Goonies never say die. The phrase, an iconic line from The Goonies, is so much more than a simplistic battle cry for a fictitious group of scrappy youngsters determined to thwart the efforts to destroy their home. In four words, it establishes the central theme of the film: determination. Throughout the film, the story seeks to teach the importance of learning to understand this value. This lesson, important to the development of most individuals in their adolescence, was clearly absorbed by another group of ragtag youths that also call the Oregon coastline home: the Portland Trailblazers.
Just as no one in the town of Astoria, Oregon expected the adolescents to succeed in their attempt to prevent a country club from demolishing their neighborhood (known affectionately as the “Goon Docks”), few expected the Portland Trail Blazers to make it to the playoffs, and even fewer believed they would put up a fight against the vaunted Los Angeles Clippers. The series started in a manner that seemed to indicate those predictions were correct, too. Down two games to one, many writers and fans were picking Portland to lose the next two and enjoy the rest of the postseason from the couch, but Blazers never say die.
Showing the same determination they have put on display all season, the Blazers were in control from the verystart of Game 4 against the Clippers. Clearly, Portland was aware of the importance of tying the series up at two games apiece. Seeming to simply out hustle the Clippers, Mason Plumlee led the charge in terms of effort, and his 14-rebound performance was a large part of the team-wide effort on the glass that gave the Blazers a 16-board advantage.
In one notable sequence in the second quarter, Damian Lillard drove to the basket and failed to convert his attempted layup at the basket. Mason Plumlee secured the rebound and kicked the ball back to Lillard, who had scampered to the corner for an easy three-point make. Just like that, the Blazers took an effective defensive stand from the Clippers and simply threw it back in their collective faces. Even when things did not go as planned, they were able to create opportunities where seemingly none existed. Creating their own luck by way of a gritty determination was the difference in Game 4.
With the injuries to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin and the series tied up, the Trail Blazers now find themselves in a situation that is impossible to characterize as anything but the best possible scenario. Their determination has taken them further than anyone could have possibly expected this season, and it will probably be enough to get them past the Clippers in the first round. Where can they go from there? The prospects certainly are bleak considering they would matchup against the Golden State Warriors, who are still fairly dangerous with or without Steph Curry, but, hey, Goonies (Blazers) never say die.
Charlotte Hornets come of age
Philip Rossman-Reich | @omagicdaily | Orlando Magic Daily, Hardwood Paroxysm
The Playoffs are a process.
Rare is the team that enters the playoffs for the first time and takes it by storm without any heartache or heartbreak — let alone a first-round series loss. To win in the league, it often takes years of team building and growth. To get out of the first round takes overcoming a team’s own insecurities and internal pressure to accomplish. Especially when a veteran team like the Miami Heat stands in the way.
The cards are stacked against the Charlotte Hornets. As good as they were to end the regular season and in securing the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, they had that doubt of collective inexperience. That simple fact that they had not won a playoff game.
In this incarnation of the Charlotte NBA franchise, they had been swept out of two playoff series — in 2010 the Magic did the deed and then in 2014 the Heat did. It was a long road back to the playoffs in between. And getting that first win remained a bugaboo.
Playoff tightness is real. The Hornets got blown out in the first two games in Miami. The Raptors collapsed against the Pacers in Game 1. Until the team gets over that hump and puts that initial talk to rest — putting pressure on the other team — it will persist and creep back in.
Charlotte got off that schneid Saturday with an emotional blowout win in Game 3. How would they respond in Game 4? That would be the question that would define this series and define whether the Charlotte Hornets are going to have staying power in this postseason and maybe beyond.
At a certain point a young team has to grow up or disband.
Monday night, the Hornets grew up. And grew up magnificently. Not without youthful indiscretions and hiccups. This is not a team of experience yet. But this team is growing up and now they have a series — a best-of-three series — with the Miami Heat with a chance for that first playoff series win since 2002, the last year the original Charlotte Hornets were in town.
Miami gave Charlotte a good punch at the end. Both teams were executing well and defending well in a tight game. The Hornets had to make shots to pull out the win. Al Jefferson had to draw the defense in with his inimitable post-up game and feed it to Kemba Walker to step into a three-pointer. And there would be Walker again and again. A floater, a step back. Jumpers falling from the divisive scoring point guard.
The Hornets scored just two points in the final 3:10 of the game as their eight-point lead got winnowed to two. This is the Miami Heat after all with Dwyane Wade still able to reach into his tank and pull out his masterful play. Or Joe Johnson doing the same. Charlotte responded how the team needed to if it wanted to make this playoff stay last a little longer. The Hornets played like a team released from their playoff woes and ready to swim in the big pool of competition.
Jeremy Lin was driving with freedom and scoring, bringing shades of Linsanity and shrugging his shoulders at his boss like his boss did in playoff battles long ago. Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson were doing their things at their highest level as Charlotte built the lead and controlled the game from the second quarter on.
The next three games will not be easy. Not by a long shot. This series is really getting started.
The Hornets though are not going to go away any time soon. This time they are here to stay and they have begun showing the maturity to build something special to compete in the Eastern Conference. A win like this can be that big confidence builder heading into the rest of this series and much further beyond.
An echo of Amare Stoudemire
Ian Levy | @HickoryHigh | FanSided
With just over two minutes left in the first quarter, after a chaotic transition sequence, Goran Dragic found himself guarded by Spencer Hawes at the top of the key. Dragic crossed Hawes over to his left, turned the corner at the free throw line and then, as Cody Zeller rotated over to stop the ball, Dragic dropped the ball off to Amare Stoudemire. There is not a lot of basketball left in Stoudemire’s legs but he had enough to rise with two hands and dunk through the outstretched arms of Spencer Hawes.
This dunk was not vintage Stoudemire. It was dusty, creaky, present-day Stoudemire, more momentum and inertia than explosion. Still, there was enough bounce, enough oomph to trigger a little deja’vu. It was like a fading echo of what he used to be and what he used to do, just softly trailing off.
For all the lovely basketball the Miami Heat have gotten from Hassan Whiteside, Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson, this team draws strength from age and experience. If you told me back in 2006 that someday Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng and Joe Johnson would all play for the same team, my first question would have been about how many championships they had won. In 2006-07, that quartet combined to produce 35.6 Wins Over Replacement Player. They are not those players any more, for moments maybe, but not enough to really make it matter. They are all ringing echoes, fading out at different speeds.
If we can be reductive for a moment, the Miami Heat are the past and the Charlotte Hornets are the future. What matters though, is the present. After two wins to tie the series, the Hornets are shouting and chest bumping, trying to breathe life into their youth and vitality, turn confidence into production. The Heat are still, holding their note, focused on their breathing, and listening. As long as they can still hear it, the tone continues to ring.
Mark Cuban, he’s not a sidekick anymore
Jeremy Karll | @JeremyKarll5 | Hardwood Houdini
The Oklahoma City Thunder were able to end the series with the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night after a 118-94 victory. Dallas was able to keep the game close until the fourth quarter but the final margin, and really most of the actual basketball in this series, is second-fiddle to the high emotion and chippiness. For example, Mark Cuban’s comments about Russell Westbrook before Game 5.
When talking to reporters from before a win-or-go home Game 5, the Mavericks’ owner praised Kevin Durant but then said, “I think he’s [Russell Westbrook] is an All-Star but not a superstar.” Maybe Cuban didn’t watch the previous four games, or maybe what Kevin Durant told reporters after their Game 5 win is true: “He’s an idiot.” Either way, Westbrook — whether it’s from inspiration or just another day at the office — recorded another double-double, making it five in the series.
Calling out Westbrook was just another hard-headed move by the Mavericks this series. Fully aware of the talent deficit between them and the Thunder, they seemed to make antagonism part of the game plan. Before Game 2, Charlie Villanueva and rookie Justin Anderson got in the middle of Westbrook and Cameron Payne’s pre-game dance. In Game 3, Raymond Felton hit Steven Adams with a forearm as both went up for an offensive rebound.
An ejection finally took place late in Game 4 when Kevin Durant smacked Justin Anderson across the face as he went up for a layup. Durant was not suspended, although did receive a $15K fine.
With the comments being said before Game 5 and the hard foul by Durant in Game 4, emotions started to boil over late in the fourth quarter, once the game was out of reach. Russell Westbrook was on the ground going after a loose ball when Justin Anderson dove into the play late and nailed Westbrook with an elbow to the face. Anderson was assessed a technical foul, however, it once again showed the Mavericks emotion-driven play.
The intensity was at playoff-level throughout the whole series, however, for Mark Cuban to call out Westbrook is mind-boggling. Maybe he wanted to keep the hard-nosed attitude of the Mavericks going to try to rattle the Thunder. It didn’t work as Westbrook went off for 36 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.
Westbrook is one of the favorites to finish second in MVP voting behind Steph Curry. He is also expected to be named to the All-NBA First team and when looking at his numbers it’s easy to see why. Westbrook was fifth in the league in points per game (23.5), first among guards with 7.8 rebounds per game and was one of four players to average at least 10 assists per contest (10.4; second in NBA).
There was once a time when he was out-shadowed by teammate Kevin Durant and seen as his sidekick. That time is long gone and this season he was one of the top-ten players in the league and there is little argument about him being the second best point guard behind Curry. The high-flying, electric point guard out of UCLA has solidified himself as a superstar over the past couple of seasons, so I hope Cuban was doing nothing more than trying to rattle him leading up to an elimination game.
Andre Roberson steps out of OKC’s friendzone
David Ramil | @dramil13 | Hardwood Paroxysm
For two seasons, Andre Roberson has stood quietly in the corner. While the Oklahoma City Thunder front office and fan base wooed, in vain, the swingman of their dreams, Roberson waited patiently in his haphazardly slapped-together vintage wardrobe, offering support, a shoulder to cry on and under four points per game.
Substitute teacher clone Scott Brooks, the team’s former head coach, had seen some potential in Roberson. He took a liking to ‘Dre, told him to keep on persevering and good things would happen. Despite an offensive repertoire more limited than Molly Ringwald’s acting chops, Roberson was offered the starting role prior to last season. Since then, he has had to endure the team’s acquisition of Dion Waiters, Kyle Singler, Cameron Payne and Randy Foye, all of whom seemed like better options to start at one point or another.
Yet, Roberson somehow managed to stymie these would-be suitors, using his defensive abilities like a sarcastically charming defense mechanism. While Waiters offered greater scoring and bad-boy charm, Roberson simply worked harder on his outside shot. Singler’s boy-band haircut seemed like a potential threat, but he was, it turns out, all superficial appeal and not much substance.
Payne, the rookie, offered a younger and arguably much-more talented option for the Thunder but they rebuffed him in straight-up Anthony Michael Hall style — and I’m sure he doesn’t even have the underpants to prove it.
Foye was the latest challenger, a transfer student that boasted mile-high shooting and seemed, at long last, to be the perfect man. But, like the rest, he’s figured out that it takes more than a dubious reputation to take Roberson’s starting job.
And so Roberson has stuck around with the Thunder, hoping that one day Oklahoma City fans would notice that the shooting guard they’ve been looking for has been there all along.
On Monday night, during the Game 5 homecoming at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, Roberson finally got his chance. It wasn’t his scoring that was so convincing, as he’d finish with just six points on 3-of-6 shooting. But there was this one play, when the Dallas Mavericks comeback threatened to upset OKC’s playoff dreams, that really changed everyone’s opinion of Roberson:
Perhaps it’s not always about fancy, shiny three-point shots or how many statistics you own. Sometimes good ol’ fashioned defensive tenacity — what’s been there all along for the Thunder — could make all the difference. From there, Roberson continued to make a quiet but undeniable impact. Two steals and two blocks, a chased-down loose ball…in short, he’d do whatever it takes to get a win, and that’s something Thunder fans can really appreciate.
With the big win over Dallas, the Thunder will move on in the playoffs to face a familiar foe, the San Antonio Spurs. Their best player, a fellow by the name of Kawhi, is a reminder to Thunder fans that you can be a defensive stalwart like Roberson and still know how to score the ball; it will, most likely, renew the temptation to add another challenger to the roster.
But for one night at least, Andre Roberson stepped out of Oklahoma City’s friendzone to steal both an errant pass and their hearts.