Now... Let's Bring On The Clippers!!!!!

[KingLouieLouie]

I am still in "LA LA Land" that the Suns became the 8th team in the history of the NBA to overcome a 3-1 game deficit in the post season and of course in a resounding manner...

I know most of you (including myself) will still be discussing this past round vs. the Lakers for some time to come (especially since it was a comeback of epical proportions), but now... it's time to focus on the Clippers:

The Suns and the Clippers split their regular season match-up and here's the links to those games:

12/10/05: Game #19 (13-6)
Clippers-101
Suns-91

Box Score Link:
http://www.nba.com/games/20051210/PHXLAC/boxscore.html

Recap:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2005121012

01/18/06: Game # 38 (25-13)
Suns-112
Clippers-102

Box Score Link:
http://www.nba.com/games/20060118/PHXLAC/boxscore.html

Recap:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2006011812

03/15/06: Game # 64 (45-19)
Suns-126
Clippers-95

Box Score Link:
http://www.nba.com/games/20060315/LACPHX/boxscore.html

Recap:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2006031521

04/05/06: Game # 74 (49-25)
Clippers-119
Suns-105

Box Score Link:
http://www.nba.com/games/20060405/LACPHX/boxscore.html

Recap:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2006040521


True, the play-off atmosphere/intensity is obviously considerably more emotional compared to the regular season, however, it is interesting to look back at how the earlier match-ups went.... Should be an entertaining 2nd round indeed.....

 

[az1965]

Series prediction:

Suns in 6

 

[boisesuns]

What sucks is we have to "Beat LA" for 8 games in the first two rounds to advance to the western finals

 

[jbeecham]

What sucks is we have to "Beat LA" for 8 games in the first two rounds to advance to the western finals

9 actually since we had to beat the Lakers 5 times

 

[Covert Rain]

Man, the clippers are better then the lakers. I dont see how this series against the clips goes any less then 7.

 

[Nasser22]

lol, jbeecham. Well, I have got to say the Clippers win in 6. I believe in this team though and think that they may be able to pull it out, it will be tough though. They match-up well with us. Their frontcourt will dominate, Maggete is a nice defender and should do a decent job on Marion, Cassell will bother Nash a lot and Raja's great defense will have to be used on the Clipper's 5th option. Hopefully Kurt can come in later in the series and make an impace and hopefully we can continue playing like we have been the last 3 games.

 

[bko32]

without kurt thomas, i don't like the suns chances because the clippers are huge up front and have real, legitimate post players. if kt can get back and play, he will be able to negate some of the clippers size. hopefully, it will be an entertaining series either way.

 

[arthurracoon]

This is gonna be a tough series.

Brand is awesome and Cassell always kills us in the 4th quarter.

 

[hsandhu]

The clippers are better/deeper than the lakers, but the one positive is that their post players can't kill us the way odom did, which was both inside/outside.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

The clippers are better/deeper than the lakers, but the one positive is that their post players can't kill us the way odom did, which was both inside/outside.

Elton Brand is 1000 times better than Lamar Odom.

 

[thirty-two]

I'm keeping my beat LA sig

 

[TucsonDevil]

Elton isn't 1000 times better, he just executes better than Odom - plays tougher. Much of the offense goes through Brand. However, from Talent levels, I think Odom isn't far behind Brand.

 

[az1965]

On the flip side, we have found our groove... We are now playing Suns BBall which we didn't the first 4 games...

 

[cly2tw]

The way our confidence has gone up in the past 7 games, the Clippers won't be able to handle Diaw, LB and TT either. Suns in 6!

 

[Treesquid PhD]

I am thinking Suns in 7.
I like a lot of the clippers players Brand is class and good now that is someone I wish we had in a suns uni.

 

[mribnik]

Odom and Brand are different players. We had trouble dealing with Odom because he isn't purely a post player, not even close. He can hit the outside jumper, create off the dribble, and pass the ball well. Odom is taller than Brand as well. Brand is a better player in the paint, but he isn't as versatile as Odom, so I think he'll be easier for us to defend.

 

[HardBall]

We are going to have some trouble with their front court. No way LB is getting the lane on the Clips the way he did tonight. Dantoni is a smart dude though. I'll be interested to see what he does without KT.

 

[AZZenny]

Presale tickets are up, and seemed pretty easy to get -- so those who like me couldn't really afford the inflation for tonight -- our job to show up Mon or Tuesday and get the next LA series off to a rousing start.

 

[arthurracoon]

Also, we not only have to deal with Brand, but hte Cave Man as well.

We also get to play against the Alien.

 

[HardBall]

HATE THE ALIEN!!!!

Anybody know the presale password?

 

[George O'Brien]

The Lakers focused on defending the Suns three point shooting. The Clippers are physically unable to do that. Kaman and Brand are post guys who are helpless defending on the outside.

On Jan 18, the Suns shot 11 of 26 for three.
On Mar 15, the Suns shot 16 of 31 for three

The Suns had a cold night on a percentage basis, on Apr 5 when they hit 13 of 37.

IMHO, the series will be decided entirely on whether the Suns are hitting their outside shots. After a cold start to the Laker series, the Suns seem to be finding the range.

 

[jibikao]

Hey, I read it somewhere that Nash hurt his ankle tonight??? Is he alright?

 

[George O'Brien]

Hey, I read it somewhere that Nash hurt his ankle tonight??? Is he alright?

He played most of the second half with sore ankle. It clearly effected his shooting. He said he expects to be OK, but we'll see. If he's like tonight, he will be more of a distributor than in previous games.

 

[jibikao]

He played most of the second half with sore ankle. It clearly effected his shooting. He said he expects to be OK, but we'll see. If he's like tonight, he will be more of a distributor than in previous games.

Man, what a good timing...

 

[DeAnna]

Darn, we're playing a cave man and an alien?? We are in deep doo-doo!