Games like this one are why some people will always refuse to believe in the San Antonio Spurs.
That’s a wildly outdated notion, of course. Gregg Popovich’s squad proved last season that a squad built mostly on continuity, cohesion, and chemistry could win a championship, and did the same one year earlier, too. But those attributes alone aren’t enough for legitimate title contention, obviously – they’ll only take a team that lacks upper-echelon talent so far.
And the Spurs don’t. Kawhi Leonard is a superstar in game if not name; Tim Duncan remains one of the best all-around big men in basketball; a healthy Tony Parker can still go toe-to-toe with elite floor generals; and San Antonio’s supporting cast is comprised of uniquely gifted players suited to roles seemingly made for them specifically. There’s a case to be made that the reigning champions boast the league’s most talent-laden roster from top to bottom.
But what they don’t have are guys like Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.
Led by second half performances from their two superstars that befit that exalted status, the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Spurs 102-96 on Thursday night to force a do-or-die Game 7 this weekend from the friendly confines of Staples Center.
Paul and Griffin wouldn’t have been in position to take over if not for the Clippers’ beautifully consistent defense and spirited early scoring efforts from J.J. Redick and DeAndre Jordan. Aside from a few errant passes, Los Angeles was as controlled and composed as its been all series long in Game 6. This is the type of team-wide effort that makes it easy to envision the Clippers winning a Larry O’Brien Trophy come June.
But it will certainly be Paul or Griffin hoisting if that proves the case, and Tuesday’s game was a perfect example of the trump cards the Clippers possess in two of the sport’s true greats. After combining for just 12 points on 3-of-15 shooting in the game’s first 24 minutes, the pair made 15 of their 29 shots and totaled 33 points over quarters three and four.
Griffin got going just after halftime, confidently splashing jumpers and attacking from the mid-post while taking advantage of additional rest afforded him by Doc Rivers’ tweaked playing rotation.
It was a crucial 66-second sequence midway through the fourth quarter, though, that’s most indicative of the 26 year-old’s dominant two-way performance. With his team up 85-80, Griffin made a jumper on one end; successfully contested an easy Tim Duncan look and grabbed a defensive board on the other; blocked Danny Green’s transition layup attempt after a Redick turnover; and knocked down a difficult leaner on Los Angeles’ ensuing trip to make the score 89-82 and almost single-handedly stave off a seemingly imminent San Antonio run.
It speaks volumes of Griffin’s impact that Paul pointed it out after the game during an interview with TNT’s Jaime Maggio.
“Blake was unbelievable tonight, man,” he said. “That’s why he’s our guy – our go-to guy – and he won this game for us.”
Not quite. It took typical brilliance from the Point God for the Clippers to leave AT&T Center with a hard-fought victory as opposed to heart-breaking loss.
Paul scored 15 points and dished seven assists in the second half, making hay from Los Angeles’ monster double-sided high ball-screen when his team needed a bucket most. After drilling consecutive pull-up jumpers from his beloved right elbow extended in the third quarter’s final minute, he went right back to the well on its final possession and began his shooting motion to launch – only finding Glen Davis with a bullet pass for an easy dunk instead.
It was Paul’s floater to put the Clippers up 98-93 with just under 22 seconds remaining in regulation, however, that nearly moved owner Steve Ballmer to tears.
We can’t blame him.
Watching Los Angeles’ superstars play like it when they had to is the stuff of which legendary playoff moments are made. And if Paul and Griffin can do it again on Saturday, the Clippers will be one giant step closer to watching them raise a trophy in six weeks’ time.
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