“Keep your eye on DeAndre Jordan… Keep your eye on DJ. I smell somethin.’ ”
That was esteemed Los Angeles Clippers color analyst Michael Smith just moments before Chris Paul found DeAndre Jordan for this absolutely monstrous alley-oop in crunch-time of the team’s 111-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Is Smith clairvoyant? Did he have a glimpse into Doc Rivers’ huddle from his courtside seat? Or does he just have a strong grasp on the Clippers’ tendencies in year four of their time as contenders? It’s safe to say the latter, but even Smith surely couldn’t have seen aerial theatrics quite like Jordan’s coming.
Another thing that might not have surprised the veteran broadcaster, though, was that the Kings made their fourth-quarter comeback with prized offseason acquisitions Rajon Rondo and Kosta Koufos on the bench. A downsized lineup featuring Rudy Gay at power forward propelled Sacramento back from an early 13-point deficit in the final stanza, and Darren Collison was its engine at point guard.
Before Paul found Jordan to nearly demolish DeMarcus Cousins, the Kings trailed 102-100 with just over a minute remaining. They scored on the next trip down to keep hopes of a season-opening win alive, but Los Angeles’ floor general hit a jumper in the pick-and-roll to effectively put the game away on the ensuing possession.
Could Sacramento be a threat in the West? If George Karl can effectively navigate tricky rotation waters, it certainly seems possible. But Tuesday proved what we already knew about Paul, Jordan, Blake Griffin, and the Clippers: They’re surefire title contenders.
