Oklahoma Thunder

Oklahoma Thunder

Oklahoma Thunder - In Game 1, the Thunder weren't prepared to play at all, mentally. In Game 2, the Clippers were winded and overwhelmed by the Thunder response; to an extent, they seemed content to get the split in OKC. The Thunder weren't shackled by the stylistic muzzle of the Grizzlies, the Clippers weren't swooning from the emotional drain of the Donald Sterling drama. Both teams came ready to play. It wasn't a perfect game from either team, but it was a high-execution game from both teams. Game 3 saw Chris Paul with another brilliant all-around performance, 21 points on 16 shots and 16 assists. The Clippers only seem to be able to function on one level. Doc Rivers started and finished post-game with defense, in the Clippers' inability to contain and contest. Late in the game, Rivers put in Matt Barnes for defense on Durant (as if there is truly any way to stop Durant; ask Tony Allen about doing it over seven games). The problem then is that the Thunder played the Clippers the same way that the Grizzlies did last year in the Clippers' first-round exit. 

The Clippers are down, 2-1, to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference second-round best-of-seven playoff series. If the Clippers win Game 4 on Sunday at Staples Center, they would tie the series, 2-2. If the Clippers lose Game 4, they would trail, 3-1, and head back to Oklahoma City for Game 5 on Tuesday night with their season on the brink of being over. We just need to get Game 4." In the eyes of Clippers Coach Doc Rivers, Games 1, 2 and 3 were all must-win games. It's just that his team won Game 1 and lost the last two games. "Honestly, I think that's the urgency you have to play with in the playoffs," Rivers said. When Rivers was told that the Clippers have never won a playoff series when trailing 2-1, he found some levity in that. The Clippers have played in only nine playoff series since 1992 before meeting the Thunder. The Clippers have been out-rebounded in all three games by an average of 14.3 As Griffin said, the Clippers aren't down 3-0 in the series, which would make Game 4 a close-out game. "We're down 2-1 and we've got another game at home," Griffin said.