The San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers are headed to the Staples Center for Game 3 of their best of 7 series on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 EST and will be broadcasted nationally on ABC. The Spurs had no trouble beating the Clippers at home in the first 2 games of the series. In Game 1 the Spurs cruised to a 108-92 win and came right back in Game 2 with an easy 105-88 victory.
San Antonio has clearly looked like the better team so far in this series, and it shouldn't come as much of a shock to see the Spurs favored by 5-points over the Clippers in Game 3. If you want to stay up to date on the series, just double-click this link.
San Antonio
The Spurs are absolute on fire. They're a perfect 6-0 in the playoffs and have won an extraordinary 16 straight games going back to the regular season. What's really impressive about their run in the playoffs, five of their six wins have come by double-digits.
In Game 2, Tony Parker celebrated his 30th birthday in style. Parker had a game-high 22 points after he was held to just 7 points in Game 1. 4 other Spurs finished in double-figures, but almost everyone who played contributed. Tim Duncan had another solid game with 18 points on 9 of 14 shooting, Boris Diaw went a perfect 7 for 7 from the field on his way to 16 points and Daniel Green added 13 points thanks to 4 of 6 shooting from behind the 3-point line.
The Spurs are basically getting whatever they want on the offensive end. After shooting 48.8% from the field in Game 1, San Antonio connected on 53.2% of their field goal attempts in Game 2. They are completely murdering Los Angeles from behind the 3-point line. In the series, The Spurs are 23 of 50 (46%) from long distance.
Los Angeles
It's all or nothing for the Clippers in Game 3. Their odds of winning this series already seem to be slim, but if they lose at home on Saturday they may as well give up.. The big problem for Los Angeles is they appear to still be getting over their exhausting 7 game series with Memphis in the first round. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are both playing at less than 100%. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, Game 4 is booked for Sunday. Even if they are able to win Game 3, it's tough to imagine they'll have anything left in the tank for Game 4.
If LA is going to get back in the series, they need to work out a way to get Paul going offensively. The Spurs defensive scheme has completely shut down the All-Star point guard in the first 2 games. After getting held to just 6 points in Game 1, Paul was only able to contribute 10 points on Thursday.
Blake Griffin had a team-high 20 points on 7 of 16 shooting. While the scoring was there, the rest of his game wasn't. Griffin had just one rebound and one assist in 37 minutes. This guy is simply too athletic to only have one rebound in a game. I understand he is battling a sore knee, but that's unacceptable in the playoffs. With Griffin and Paul not playing their best, the other players on this team have to take it on themselves to step up and deliver in front of the home crowd.
San Antonio has clearly looked like the better team so far in this series, and it shouldn't come as much of a shock to see the Spurs favored by 5-points over the Clippers in Game 3. If you want to stay up to date on the series, just double-click this link.
San Antonio
The Spurs are absolute on fire. They're a perfect 6-0 in the playoffs and have won an extraordinary 16 straight games going back to the regular season. What's really impressive about their run in the playoffs, five of their six wins have come by double-digits.
In Game 2, Tony Parker celebrated his 30th birthday in style. Parker had a game-high 22 points after he was held to just 7 points in Game 1. 4 other Spurs finished in double-figures, but almost everyone who played contributed. Tim Duncan had another solid game with 18 points on 9 of 14 shooting, Boris Diaw went a perfect 7 for 7 from the field on his way to 16 points and Daniel Green added 13 points thanks to 4 of 6 shooting from behind the 3-point line.
The Spurs are basically getting whatever they want on the offensive end. After shooting 48.8% from the field in Game 1, San Antonio connected on 53.2% of their field goal attempts in Game 2. They are completely murdering Los Angeles from behind the 3-point line. In the series, The Spurs are 23 of 50 (46%) from long distance.
Los Angeles
It's all or nothing for the Clippers in Game 3. Their odds of winning this series already seem to be slim, but if they lose at home on Saturday they may as well give up.. The big problem for Los Angeles is they appear to still be getting over their exhausting 7 game series with Memphis in the first round. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are both playing at less than 100%. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, Game 4 is booked for Sunday. Even if they are able to win Game 3, it's tough to imagine they'll have anything left in the tank for Game 4.
If LA is going to get back in the series, they need to work out a way to get Paul going offensively. The Spurs defensive scheme has completely shut down the All-Star point guard in the first 2 games. After getting held to just 6 points in Game 1, Paul was only able to contribute 10 points on Thursday.
Blake Griffin had a team-high 20 points on 7 of 16 shooting. While the scoring was there, the rest of his game wasn't. Griffin had just one rebound and one assist in 37 minutes. This guy is simply too athletic to only have one rebound in a game. I understand he is battling a sore knee, but that's unacceptable in the playoffs. With Griffin and Paul not playing their best, the other players on this team have to take it on themselves to step up and deliver in front of the home crowd.
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