Skip Bayless called the Clippers chokers after their first-half performance in Game 3 against the Suns. It turns out he reverse jinxed them.
Skip Bayless was big mad about the Clippers in Game 3 against the Suns. Apparently, that was good for Los Angeles because they went on to prove him extraordinarily wrong.
It was the classic reverse jinx as Bayless absolutely went in on Paul George and company.
He called them chokers.
The Los Angeles Clippers, who led the NBA in 3-pt shooting, went 3-17 from three in the first half of a do-or-die home game. I'm sorry but that's just choking your guts out. Just hard to watch. I'm starting to think they're just not who I thought they were.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 25, 2021
He predicted the Suns would jump on them. He wondered when it would get ugly.
The Clippers are colder than people say my heart is. Lipping shots. Rimming shots. Missing simple shots. You can see the Suns gaining confidence, thinking, "Hey, if you guys don't want this, we'll take it." This could get ugly quickly.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 25, 2021
He accused the league office of rigging the contest.
WHAT KIND OF CALL WAS THAT ON BATUM???? HERE WE GO AGAIN. THE LEAGUE OFFICE OBVIOUSLY WANTS THE SUNS IN THE FINALS.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 25, 2021
He called for Rajon Rondo’s head.
GET RONDO OUT OF THERE.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 25, 2021
Then something funny happened. The Clippers took over and made all those tweets look very silly.
The Clippers flipped Skip Bayless’ narrative on its head
After being outscored by 10 in the second quarter and going into halftime down by two, Los Angeles blitzed the Suns in the third quarter. They held an 11-point advantage going into the fourth and didn’t relinquish control of the game.
It’s safe to say Bayless was overreacting a tad. Sometimes teams don’t shoot well. The Clippers weren’t getting played off the floor. They just needed to find their groove and they did just that after the break.
To Bayless’s credit, he was full of praise once the turnaround came through.
In the third quarter, the Clippers finally turned back into THE CLIPPERS, winning the quarter 34-21 by making key shots AND LOCKING DOWN ON DEFENSE. Thank you, PatBev, for setting the tone by playing your tail off.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 25, 2021
Paul George didn't shoot it very well and turned it over too much, but he kept attacking, scored 27 with 15 rebounds and 8 assists. Thank you, PLAYOFF P.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 25, 2021
LA really did need a result in Game 3. While they’ve erased an 0-2 deficit in both previous series, going down 0-3 would have been a death knell. Now they have a chance to tie the series despite missing Kawhi Leonard.
George put up 27 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists to continue his strong playoff run. Reggie Jackson added 23 in support, while Ivica Zubac was a difference-maker on the boards with 16 rebounds and 15 points.
Finally, the Clippers got a handle on Devin Booker, who looked human for the first time in the series with just 15 points.
Chris Paul had 15 points and 12 assists in his return to action.