A 51-point loss can really cause a team to look deep inside. Are we that bad?
A 23-point win over the Portland Trail Blazers, rivals in the West, may have the opposite impact. Are we that good?
Such is the life in pandemic NBA, with nearly fan-less arenas, players in and out of the lineup for rest, COVID and injuries, nary a training camp or pre-season with any normalcy. This is not normal. This season will not be normal.
But the Clippers are primed for success because their normal, their positives, are so much stronger than almost any other team. Tonight, Kawhi Leonard was back, masked, with his unique all-around game for a player 6’7”.
Paul George had another outstanding game, with his unique all-around game for a player 6’8”. He was joined by a very solid game from Nicolas Batum, with his unique all-around game for a player 6’9”. Are you getting the picture, readers? Kawhi, Paul George, Batum – these are three players that can post up, pass, shoot from the outside, and play defense. Tonight, all three had it going. The trio shot 21-38 from the field, made nine 3-pointers, had 17 assists and six steals. Hard to beat that performance.
And the Blazers did not beat that performance. Normally the rival TrailBlazers make noise with their magnificent backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum but Lillard had a very off night, shooting 3-14. The Blazers have more firepower to offer but not enough to overcome such a powerless night from their best player.
So, let’s not get carried away by the blowout against Dallas. Let’s not get carried away by the blowout the other way against Portland. This NBA season is going to go up and down and will, at various points, feel as though it is going sideways.
The Clippers did what they had to do and showed once again that at full strength and fine health, this team is going to be very tough to beat by two points, much less 51.
