Game four of the Clippers vs. Jazz series was very important. Clippers could have taken a commanding 3-1 series lead to have a chance at finishing off the jazz in five. Or the Jazz tie it up and we go at least 6 games with the jazz being able to steal another in L.A. and finish the series at home for game 6.
I voyaged off my recliner and drove the 40 minutes to SLC to be in house for game four. I've seen a handful of NBA games live and enjoy them every time. If you doubt the athleticism of NBA players you really should see a game live. The game is so physical and fast you really need to see it live to fully appreciate what NBA players do. I got there early and was able to see a few warmups. Gordon Hayward only stayed out for a few minutes because had the runs and ended up playing less than ten minutes. JJ Redick was my favorite player to watch warmup... you can tell he is very meticulous with his warmup. I got my seats on the side of the Clipper bench so I could see into the huddle and on the bench.
What a home court advantage the Jazz have. I've been to one other playoff game (last year Celtics v. Hawks at the TD Garden) and Vivint Smart Home Arena Delta Energy Solutions Stockton Center was way louder than the garden. The game at the TD garden went into overtime and Isaiah Thomas hit a game winner in the corner. The place got loud, but nowhere near as loud as when Deandre Jordan went to the free-throw line last night. The place got even louder in the fourth quarter and was erupting when the jazz took the lead and won the game.
I'm a pretty reasonable fan. I understand when my team gets bailed out by a bad call or gets away with something. When I heard the fans go bananas when Deandre Jordan went to the free throw line I took a step back and started to think about humanity. People are jerks. Here is a guy who struggles with shooting and the crowd is just demolishing him. Deandre stepped up to the line and hit nothing but air... the ball didn't draw anything--net, iron, backboard. When he shot that air ball the place went berserk. The crowd started waving those towels, yelling even louder because they knew they made him cower at the stripe. Imagine 20,000 people ganging up on something you suck at.
I swear I saw Deandre Jordan shrink from the seven foot giant to a city league small forward with a receding hair line. He looked small. He looked shook. If he goes to the line in game 6 I'll try to get a video.
It was comical that a minute later JJ Redick (89% free-throw shooter) was at the line and the crowd didn't even bother to wave the towels. Why bother when he will just knock them down.
That's why sports sometimes are not for the nice grandmas. Sometimes I don't get it either, it doesn't make sense. What other place can fans just destroy someone with towels and chants. My dad used to say that fans cheering against you makes you a stronger person. No one ever messed up at a piano recital to hear the crowd chant, "wrong note! wrong note!"
The jazz fans were loud but a handful were not the best fans. The fans at the TD garden were more knowledgeable about the game. The fans at TD garden were more focused on the game and less on the selfies they were taking. Last night I even heard one fan cheer for a Derrick Favors shot by shouting "Ruuddddyyyy!" Rudy Gobert was on the bench. My friends said the fans sitting in their section were somewhat similar.
But the majority were nice and put up with the pockets of Clippers fan. Game 6 should be an enjoyable one.
I did not expect the Blackhawks to get swept by the 8 seed Nashville Predators. I guess I shouldn't be surprised because they lost in the first round last year. What's crazy is that they were only competitive for a few minutes in the entire series.
We never even heard the best, most obnoxious goal song in the NHL...
It's crazy that a 1 seed got swept by an 8 seed. Its even crazier that if Rajon Rondo didn't get hurt, the Celtics are probably swept.
1) The Capitals v. Leafs series was awesome. 5 of the 6 games have gone into overtime with one gong to double OT. I was hoping that the leafs would force a game 7... When I watch hockey I like to see good possessions for each team and a little back and forth... Hockey can get boring if turnover after turnover happens in the neutral zone. The Capitals Leafs and also Sharks Oilers has been really fun to watch. I'm looking forward to Ducks v. Oilers and then Capitals v. Penguins.
2) I didn't think the Jazz were going to hang with the clippers like they have. JJ Redick hasn't gotten anything going in any game. Chris Paul has his way with any Jazz defender and Quin Snyder even tried putting Joe Ingles on him.
When the Jazz shoot 75% from the field and 60% from three in a quarter. and finish the game above 50% shooting and still lose, not much you can do there.
I expected Chris Paul to keep murdering them and wearing Turtle Necks to the funeral. He had a decent stat line in game four but disappeared in the fourth quarter. I think the clippers were trying to ride Jamal Crawford (always risky) instead of going with their best player. I was in house and that cuck Joe Ingles hit two three's right in my kitchen. I hate that guy.
The place got loud. The clippers were in control for all but 3 minutes of that game... then the wheels came off and they found themselves down 6 or 7 with little time left.
I'm thinking about going to game 6... but it looks like tickets are already going to be more expensive.
it is hard for me to get excited when winner will most likely end up getting swept by Golden State.
In 2002 I was in 5th or 6th grade. I would wake up every morning, eat pancakes, shower as quickly as I could, and go down stairs to watch SportsCenter before school started.
After school I would run home from the bus stop (I was a nerd and ran home until 8th grade I think-- The cool kids walked because they were in no hurry) and pour myself a bowl of cereal and watch SportsCenter. I sat on a left over piece of square carpet so I didn't spill any milk on the real carpet. One day I sportscaster ran this special on a high school point guard who scored 61 points to honor is grandfather who was murdered:
I was instantly hooked. I became a Chris Paul fan and watched as many of his games as I could. CP went to college at Wake Forest, playing in the ACC on a team not as popular as the Duke's or North Carolinas, but they always competed. I recorded many of his games and still have them to this day. You can even see tapes of Nate Robinson, John Stockton, and JJ Redick. My brother and I would always watch Chris Paul and JJ Redick tapes on the VCR, rewinding and pausing after every bucket.
I'm became a CP fan because I loved how an undersized point guard could change a game with crossovers, floaters, and assists. He played the way I wanted to play. Fans are drawn to certain players for some reason. Maybe it's the way they play, but there is usually something more...
Maybe his short temper: I was also known to have a short temper and toss the occasional chair a la Bobby Knight when a referee missed a blatant trip.
Or the way he sometimes speaks his mind: I remember being outspoken about how I hated how the tallest kid on my high school team would flop and get charges in practice. "He should be blocking my shot. not flopping!"
But other than those things, it is obviously the way he plays:
I remember watching the NBA draft hoping the Jazz would Draft CP so that he could play for a team 30 Minutes away from my house. I was never a jazz fan but I would have quickly become one. My dad said we would have even gotten season tickets (who knows?)
The Jazz drafted Deron Williams and Paul was drafted a pick later to the New Orleans Hornets. I can never cheer for the jazz now, but I don't necessarily blame them for taking Williams. They made the playoffs, and even went to the conference finals. But it was and always will be clear to me that CP is the better point guard. Most Jazz fans can agree with me now.
I've been watching since then, waiting for the success. I asked for NBA league pass for Christmas so I could watch every game. I had the jersey's, the shoes, the basketball cards. My friends even made fun of me for standing up during Hornets games until they scored. When CP was traded I vowed to stay with the Pelicans. I can't just bail on a team I've been cheering on for many years. But I still find myself cheering for CP and the Clippers just because I've been a fan of the guy for so long. Equal to the Lebron Fans who flip flopped from the Cavss to Heat and back to the Cavs.
But the success hasn't happened. My friend sent me a tweet a couple months ago saying something like "The only two teams who haven't made the western conference finals since 2001" with a picture of the Hornets and Clippers. I hate to admit that CP's great career won't seem as great without a Finals appearance, or even escaping the second round, but that is how sports works. It doesn't discount he's a hall of fame point guard, but something will be missing.
So here we go again. My hopes are as low as ever. I honestly think they will beat the jazz and get then get swept or lose to five in the Warriors series. If they can give the warriors run. I'll be happy. If they win. I'll be singing I've got a Golden ticket clicking my heels around my living room.
So to all the fans of all the players who haven't won... good luck this playoffs.
Now for something different...
The NBA and NHL playoffs are unlike anything else. Sports fans love both these playoffs because they give us two months of extremely competitive, highs takes games. Every quarter matters. The fools who think that the NBA is full of lazy, overpaid stars just have to shut up and watch the greatness.
Here are some thoughts I'm having upcoming NHL and NBA playoffs.
1. Cant wait until overtime hockey. Update: It happened day one. Minnesota Wild scored with 30+ seconds left in the game to force OT. Nothing like playoff hockey. Update: It happened again. Another goal in the last 30 seconds to force OT. Again, Nothing like playoff hockey!
2. Clippers are definitely going to lose second round (probably swept) and I may have to throw my tv out of the window.
3. Can anyone stop the Blackhawks? They lost game one but no one seems to be worried. They were behind last year to the blues and forced a game 7. Chicago is my favorite team to watch... but anything can happen in the NHL playoffs. Last year I bet them to repeat and win it all. I was absolutely devastated at the double post in game 7. Fun fact, Blackhawks lost and then half an hour later Chris Paul broke his hand against the Trailblazers. That day ruined the playoffs for me.
4. This is not the Caps year. Are they the clippers of the NHL? They are expected to make a run every year... and it never happens. hmmm.
5. I don't want a golden state v. Cleveland rematch. I want LA clippers vs. Cavs. Seems like a few sports fans have been wanting too see Clippers (CP and Blake) v. Lebron ever since he was on the heat. I think that would make for the most entertaining finals. Two friends going at it. A clippers team much like the cubs who went forever without winning. I feel like Smalls in the outfield with my eyes closed and glove up. Please happen! Please happen! Hopefully the basketball gods can hit one straight into my glove.
6. I just listened to the Bill Simmons podcast and he talks about Chris Paul being hated. I think Simmons was referring to him being more of a pest and an annoyance. When did people start hating him? I think its when he started playing with the clippers. Too many polarizing people on one team. Doc, Blake, and CP. All I ever read and heard growing up was how great of a guy he was. One of my high school teammates was being recruited by Wake Forest. I approached the recruit and said I was a huge CP fan... the recruit just talked about how great of a person he was. The narrative has seemed to change that he is a good, nice guy to he is an annoying pest. They are probably both true.
By the way I'm picking all the top seeds to advance to the second round. No upsets.
Let me know your thoughts on Chris Paul, NBA/NHL playoffs in comments or tweet @ejrios3
