2024 Playoffs Western Conference First Round: (4) LA Clippers vs (5) Dallas Mavericks

[InstaFace]

NBA series preview: https://www.nba.com/news/2024-nba-playoffs-series-preview-clippers-mavericks

Schedule:

Game 1: Mavericks vs. Clippers; Sunday, April 21 (3:30 ET, ABC)
Game 2: Mavericks vs. Clippers; Tuesday, April 23 (10 ET, TNT)
Game 3: Clippers vs. Mavericks; Friday, April 26 (8 ET, ESPN)
Game 4: Clippers vs. Mavericks; Sunday, April 28 (3:30 ET, ABC)
Game 5: Mavericks vs. Clippers; Wednesday, May 1 (TBD, TBD)*
Game 6: Clippers vs. Mavericks; Friday, May 3 (TBD, TBD)*
Game 7: Mavericks vs. Clippers; Sunday, May 5 (TBD, TBD)*

Betting odds: Clippers +120, Mavericks +125 (???)

Clippers fan series preview:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUwtsDbw74U

 

[NoXInNixon]

So all I have to do is bet equally on both teams, and I'm guaranteed a %10 profit?

 

[CaptainLaddie]

Those odds are wrong?

FanDuel has the Clips +118, the Mavs -144.

 

[InstaFace]

Those odds are wrong?

FanDuel has the Clips +118, the Mavs -144.

Thanks, I probably should've googled.

 

[ElUno20]

From my other post, shams reported today that Kawhi had knee injections recently. I doubt he plays game 1, they lose game 2 and then it's not "worth it" for him to even come back down 0-2.

Kawhi may be the greatest useless/what if player of all time. He's the Michael Jordan of not being there when it counts.

 

[Euclis20]

From my other post, shams reported today that Kawhi had knee injections recently. I doubt he plays game 1, they lose game 2 and then it's not "worth it" for him to even come back down 0-2.

Kawhi may be the greatest useless/what if player of all time. He's the Michael Jordan of not being there when it counts.

For the Clippers, anyway. Anytime you're in a club whose only other members are Lebron and Kareem (finals MVP for more than one team), your legacy is in good shape.

The glass half full view of the Kawhi news is that he hasn't been ruled out yet, and if he plays, I expect him to be great (for better or worse, he always seems to be at least 95% when he does play).

 

[m0ckduck]

Like most people, I don't expect the Clippers to get enough out of Kawhi to advance past Dallas. But as a Celtics fan, I hope they lose with enough dignity and silver linings that players and management talk themselves into keeping this group together. It's very convenient to have these three top-end talents (Kawhi, George, Harden) safely out of the EC and lassoed together in a scenario that isn't producing real title runs. Clips can't afford to fully blow it up with the new arena on the way, but I don't welcome the idea of, say, PG13 shopping for a new team this summer and eyeing Sixers, Heat, Magic, etc.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Like most people, I don't expect the Clippers to get enough out of Kawhi to advance past Dallas. But as a Celtics fan, I hope they lose with enough dignity and silver linings that players and management talk themselves into keeping this group together. It's very convenient to have these three top-end talents (Kawhi, George, Harden) safely out of the EC and lassoed together in a scenario that isn't producing real title runs. Clips can't afford to fully blow it up with the new arena on the way, but I don't welcome the idea of, say, PG13 shopping for a new team this summer and eyeing Sixers, Heat, Magic, etc.

Yeah, PG13 on PHI would make that team much tougher (though the Cs probably would still have the better team). PHI is already sending out signals that it would "leap" at a chance to sign him: View: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10115704-paul-george-rumors-76ers-would-leap-at-the-chance-to-sign-clippers-star-in-nba-fa

 

[ElUno20]

PG is probably gone. All this "they need so and so for the new stadium" is so delusional. I've heard it for 3 years. Balmer is one of the richest people on earth. He doesnt give a shit if he's watching in an empty stadium. This is like a toy/real life fantasy league for him. He wants to win not have "names".

I wish they hadnt resigned Kawhi. I wouldve enjoyed an offseason where they both left. There's no greater sports sin to me than unavailability. I hate it so much. They're both useless.

 

[InstaFace]

Maybe they should have put Kawhi on the Porzingis / Horford rest plan. Kawhi 's season:

- played 27 games straight
- 4 games out hurt
- played 41 of the next 43 games
- out hurt for the last 8 games of the season, and now at least part of the playoffs

Gotta lay some of the blame on management, not just on the players.

 

[Tony C]

Man alive do I agree with that take. As am in L.A. watch a fair amount of Clippers (and Lakers), and I thought Kawhi was as impressive as ever during that Clippers mid-season run. But it was constantly running through my head...don't they need to rest these guys more? I mean, Kawhi calls his own shots, but he's certainly never been shy about rest. Not sure whose call that was, but seems damaging.

This is definitely the series that promises to be the most fun. Tough one to pick given uncertainly over Kawhi's health. If healthy, would like Clippers in 7 (hard to top a trio of Kawhi, Harden, and PG if healthy) ; if not, Mavs in 6 (the Clippers lack of interior D is really going to open up Kyrie and Luka drives and dishes to guys like Lively and Gafford on rim runs.

 

[ElUno20]

The management is on Kawhi. He only cared about 65 game limit for all nba honors (probably to hit some incentives in his deal).

 

[Tony C]

Zubac is just demolishing Gafford.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Doncic is incredibly unskilled on D.

Like, if you could show film on how not to defend, it would be him.

 

[TrapperAB]

Doncic is incredibly unskilled on D.

Like, if you could show film on how not to defend, it would be him.

It’s sort of baffling, right? You’d think a savant on the offensive end could anticipate what the other team’s gonna do when they have the ball (that’s what made Joker serviceable on D, despite not being nimble or switchy). Instead, he constantly looks lost.

 

[Euclis20]

It’s sort of baffling, right? You’d think a savant on the offensive end could anticipate what the other team’s gonna do when they have the ball (that’s what made Joker serviceable on D, despite not being nimble or switchy). Instead, he constantly looks lost.

Can't fix slow feet, and his most impressive physical attribute (the ability to change speeds at his size better than anyone else in the league) is basically useless on defense. With his size he should still be a passable defender most of the time, but he's so lazy. It's the kind of thing that rarely gets exploited early, but we'll see how it goes later in the playoffs (if the Mavs advacne).

 

[HowBoutDemSox]

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, Dallas is still under 30 points midway through the second quarter. Clips looking much better all around.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Though the league did away with that call? That’s terrible.

 

[Light-Tower-Power]

What a weekend of shit games. Hopefully Bucks/Pacers delivers later on.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Mavs supporting cast are having panic attacks every touch.

 

[chilidawg]

Mavs can't even make layups. Always makes me happy to see KI stink it up.

 

[HowBoutDemSox]

Mavs supporting cast are having panic attacks every touch.

Their stars aren’t doing much either, Luka is 4 for 13, Kyrie is 1 for 6 in the first half.

 

[The Raccoon]

Offensive genius Luka Doncic and offensive genius Kyrie Irving with a 30 point first half!

At least they played as expected on D!

 

[Euclis20]

The national media is just dying to pronounce Luka the best player in the league, I'm not sorry to see them being embarrassed early. And fuck Kyrie forever.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Can't fix slow feet, and his most impressive physical attribute (the ability to change speeds at his size better than anyone else in the league) is basically useless on defense. With his size he should still be a passable defender most of the time, but he's so lazy. It's the kind of thing that rarely gets exploited early, but we'll see how it goes later in the playoffs (if the Mavs advacne).

There are so many possessions where he’s just sitting there in position to help, but just doesn’t. And it’s not like he’s worried about losing his man to help, because he’s not actually defending anyone to begin with. He just like stands in the paint being taller than others and doing nothing.

 

[Devizier]

Clippers, um, making a statement.

 

[Cellar-Door]

How long before we can start having the conversation about whether saying Luka is the new Harden is an insult to Harden?

 

[AMS25]

Another boring playoff game. Ho hum.

 

[Cellar-Door]

The refs in this game are wild... guys get hammered on both ends... no call. guy trips on his own feet after being gently brushed,.... FTs.

Edit- lol then Luka pushes Harden in the back no call. This game is a mess.

 

[Euclis20]

How long before we can start having the conversation about whether saying Luka is the new Harden is an insult to Harden?

One pro for Harden that gets lost is that earlier in his career, he was really durable. He missed just 33 total games in 8 years. Luka missed that many total in the two years before this one, and has missed 72 games over the last 5 years.

Stat inflation is real and he got off to a quicker start than Harden, but he's not where Harden was at his peak:



The major selling point for Luka over Harden is that the former has raised his game in the playoffs, but if they lose to the Clippers this year (especially with no Kawhi), it's hard to maintain that narrative with Luka only getting out of the first round once in six seasons.

 

[Cellar-Door]

You can see why other NBA players love Kyrie's game so much more than his results would merit. When he's on, his handle/layup game is all-time good.

 

[osori]

Dallas hit some insane shots that shouldn't go in... and is still trailing by 23.

 

[The Raccoon]

Down to 15 now with 8:22 to play.
Still a lead you shouldn't lose, but Clipps need to finish the game off seriously.

 

[Cellar-Door]

C'mon this is a common foul

Edit- actually a tech makes sense, post-whistle technically.

 

[osori]

Harden looks like prime Harden when guarded by the mighty Luka.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Ballmer looks like he’s gonna have a heart attack after every play.

 

[jon abbey]

What a weekend of shit games.

If a playoff series doesn't start until the home team loses a game, these playoffs have yet to start.

 

[tims4wins]

If a playoff series doesn't start until the home team loses a game, these playoffs have yet to start.

I’ve always hated that phrase. It makes no sense to me. If the favored seed wins game 3 on the road to go up 3-0, the series has begun? I would say a playoff series doesn’t start until each team has won a game.

 

[tims4wins]

If a playoff series doesn't start until the home team loses a game, these playoffs have yet to start.

I’ve always hated that phrase. It makes no sense to me. If the favored seed wins game 3 on the road to go up 3-0, the series has begun? I would say a playoff series doesn’t start until each team has won a game.

 

[jon abbey]

I’ve always hated that phrase. It makes no sense to me. If the favored seed wins game 3 on the road to go up 3-0, the series has begun? I would say a playoff series doesn’t start until each team has won a game.

I think it's just a way to remind people with no memories that down 0-2 and going home is not quite as bad as it looks (it's bad).

 

[Euclis20]

I think it's just a way to remind people with no memories that down 0-2 and going home is not quite as bad as it looks (it's bad).

Bad but not a death sentence. It was just a few years ago that the Bucks went down 2-0 against Brooklyn and went on to win the series, followed by going down 2-0 again in the finals against Phoenix before winning in 6. Teams come back down 0-2 less than 10% of the time, but I'd imagine a pretty decent chunk of those losses were simply cases in which the the better team went up 2-0 and went on to win the series. There are a couple of teams in this years' playoffs that can credibly come back down 0-2 and heading home, Dallas being at the top of that list (especially if Kawhi remains out).

 

[TomRicardo]

How long before we can start having the conversation about whether saying Luka is the new Harden is an insult to Harden?

Luka followed through with the emptiest 33 points he possibly could to make sure he Is not blamed.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Kryie first person in NBA history to score 20+ points in a quarter without missing a shot. https://athlonsports.com/nba/dallas-mavericks-kyrie-irving-makes-history-nba-playoffs-los-angeles-clippers.

DAL got 64 from Kryie and Luka and still only scored 97. Woof.

 

[ElUno20]

The biggest takeaway from the media after this game is the clippers were lucky to win and if you simply take away all the points they scored, the mavericks win easy.

I know it's the clippers and we suck but god damn. It's not hard to do a basic job and just say for one game, they played better than the other team.

 

[Tony C]

The Clippers looked great. Zubac dominating Gaff/Live was key, and the Mavs don't have the sort of beefy PF that can take advantage of Clips weakness at PF.

The key will be Harden. Even without Kawhi I'd say the Clippers are the better team if Harden shows that he can sustain this level of play. If he does, then the Clippers are a balanced team. But we all know Harden's up/down history, so...will have to see (of course will also have to see if Kawhi comes back healthy....which could more than counteract Harden's potential inconsistency).

Didn't realize how much I can't stand the Mavs -- specifically Luka's constant whining and Kyrie's constant..Kyrie-ing -- until was watching this game. Not a particular L.A. fan, tho' a big Ty Lue fan, but god it's easy to root against Luka/Kyrie (and Cuban).

 

[osori]

Plumlee is absolutely useless. Good passes to him in dunker's spot, can't do anything.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

Watching Luka get credit for defense is hysterical. He basically had no choice but to block Plumlee, but otherwise he looks like a fucking matador out there.

When the Clippers start making a few shots, this game will be over.

 

[slamminsammya]

refs called a normal foul on harden for being in washington’s landing zone on a 3 and then don’t even call anything as george clips hard always knee on a three and he’s injured. wasn’t the flagrant supposed to make those plays not happen? you gotta call it

 

[slamminsammya]

did not anticipate some sadé jokes tonight

 

[HomeRunBaker]

This series is going to be wild. If it goes anything less than 7 than we are the losers in that deal.

Clippers had a 26-5 stretch which was the leagues best record during that time following the Harden trade. Dallas has a 16-2 stretch at the end of the year when they had the best record in the league during that time following the PJ Washington/Daniel Gafford trade.

Something has to give and I think the winner of this series is the team that can beat Denver…if anyone can beat Denver.