Clippers!

[jhwalker]

Someone reminded Blake to dunk.
At almost 72, I might have a better vertical than Big Baby Davis, but he plays with great heart.

Do I dare go to sleep with a 14 pt lead? In the NBA that is about 2 minutes... Crawford. Drives you crazy and then he puts on a show.

[Tetge]

Doc shortened the rotation in the second half so the Clippers hung on to win as the second team didn't come in and give away the lead. Crawford made some shots and Blake made some dunks and, San Antonio was not shooting very well. But, it is a long series, and, who knows? The Clippers may be able to work with a short rotation versus elderly San Antonio, but, the Warriors are young and deep and they like to run. So, I still am worried about the lack of depth for the Clippers in the long run as fatigue and foul problems can make a good bench a necessity, and the Clippers bench is not good.

However, they won game 1, so the Clipper faithful still can hope that this is the year.

[jhwalker]

I, of course, am NOT a member of any sect, including the fabled Clipper Faithful But they did a good job. They were tough and showed skill. I think the Spurs are showing their age. Even more so than usual.

It was interesting listening to the half-time yakking -- according to everyone but Barkley, Clips have NO chance... Even last night. It is good to see some playoffs. I HATE baseball.

[jhwalker]

With Terri in New York working this week, and my chores being in pretty good shape, I watched a good portion of the 3 games tonight.

Toronto -- looks like they are shocked at the different level of intensity in the playoffs. I would not be shocked at a Washington sweep. I WOULD be shocked if Toronto wins 2.

Cleveland vs Boston. Looked close until it counted and then it was clear that this is a warmup

Houston vs Dallas. Rondo has an $11mil contract and he is "not engaged". My response would be "bite me". Dwight Howard was engaged to the tune of a ton of points and rebounds. Maybe Dallas wins a couple, maybe not.

Thus it is spoken.

[Tetge]

I am wondering if the Clippers can keep it up and win tonight. San Antonio never seems to get nervous and they just keep on playing their game with apparently interchangeable players at all positions. Fortunately the Clippers are fairly young so perhaps they can handle major minutes for the starting five, which is a good team when it is clicking? But, I can't help worrying since San Antonio is definitely not an easy out for a three seed to draw.

I have not seen much that interested me from the other games. I suppose it is too much basketball, with the outcome of most contests being a given, to keep my interest. Perhaps things will get more interesting after the first round is completed? And, of course, there still are too many commercial breaks and reviews by the refs and delays for blood, etc.

[jhwalker]

Now that you mention the R word, as usual I find the reffing very unpredictable and, with replays, often just BS. Seems like their minds are already made up, so a great clean block gets the whistle. The other R word for me right now is Rondo. The Dallas coach's sin was to try to coach him. He is a free spirit.

I would say that I am watching because Terri is away, but since I don't watch regular season, this is all interesting to me. I had not seen Dwight Howard effective since he went to my Lakers -- a move which seems to be a career-killer these days...

[Tetge]

Dwight was downright impressive last night. It seems that he can still be a monster, and, he even made most of his free throws. But, the refs really can impact the games, although it must be a difficult job with the size of the players and the speed at which the game is played. In any case, the commercials need breaks to run in, and TV rules, so lots of calls by the refs works out for the advertisers.

Rondo wasn't sharp in his last game and perhaps the coach decided to exert some authority to see if that made a difference. There really is no excuse for an 8 second violation, for instance, when you are not even being guarded. It doesn't really matter since the Rockets appear to be the better team. Funny thing about pro basketball, but, the better team seems to win most of the contests, regardless of hype. And, when this becomes obvious, the games generally lose all interest for me and I nod off.

[Tetge]

It is half time and San Antonio is up 5. It appears that they have adjusted to the Clippers and returned to business as usual. It's OK, I suppose, since I always have liked the way that San Antonio played the game, but, it is disappointing to see the Clippers making stupid mistakes instead of playing smarter. Still, who ever wins the Clippers side of the bracket will have to play the Warriors almost for certain, and the Warriors have a lot of game based upon what I have seen thus far.

Not that I have given up on the Clippers, but, they are going to have to play to their potential if they expect to win.

[jhwalker]

It is half time and San Antonio is up 5. It appears that they have adjusted to the Clippers and returned to business as usual. It's OK, I suppose, since I always have liked the way that San Antonio played the game, but, it is disappointing to see the Clippers making stupid mistakes instead of playing smarter. Still, who ever wins the Clippers side of the bracket will have to play the Warriors almost for certain, and the Warriors have a lot of game based upon what I have seen thus far.

Not that I have given up on the Clippers, but, they are going to have to play to their potential if they expect to win.

Thanks -- I realized after the first game tonight that I have overdosed -- taking a break from the game until a little later tonight.

[jhwalker]

It is half time and San Antonio is up 5. It appears that they have adjusted to the Clippers and returned to business as usual. It's OK, I suppose, since I always have liked the way that San Antonio played the game, but, it is disappointing to see the Clippers making stupid mistakes instead of playing smarter. Still, who ever wins the Clippers side of the bracket will have to play the Warriors almost for certain, and the Warriors have a lot of game based upon what I have seen thus far.

Not that I have given up on the Clippers, but, they are going to have to play to their potential if they expect to win.

Thanks -- I realized after the first game tonight that I have overdosed -- taking a break from the game until a little later tonight.