Clippers point guard Austin Rivers reminded everyone last night of the real beauty of sports: the heart these athletes display while putting their bodies on the line game after game for one thing, victory. Rivers received 11 stitches around his eye and played the second half with it mostly swollen shut.
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Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum reacts after making a 3-point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, April 29, 2016, in Portland, Ore.
“Their injuries were a setback, but they competed hard”, Stotts said.
The Portland Trail Blazers blew out the Clippers 98-84 in Game 4 of their National Basketball Association playoffs first-round series.In a further blow to the Clippers, Blake Griffin is only rated “50-50” by Rivers to play game five after suffering a left quad injury. There was blood everywhere. Austin Rivers had himself a one-eyed quarter, and the Clippers suddenly were the beneficiaries of some timely offensive rebounding.
Paul George’s double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds inspired the Pacers. “I just kind of caught a…”
Overall, I’m not taking incredible exception to any of the officiating to end the game last night, admittedly erroneous or otherwise.
As sophisticated as front office decisions might seem, plenty of teams just hunt for max-contract superstars and minimum contract players who don’t have to do much to become more valuable than their contract. “I told Jamal after he missed that shot we live with him. Our focus is, and my focus is as a leader, on what we need to do inside to try to win one ballgame and take it from there”.
They were especially strong from outside in the second half, knocking down 10-of-20 attempts to kickstart an offense that had been generally successful but less than explosive overall. He’s from Oakland. I would have thought you’d have heard of him. But Crawford’s late shot attempt fell off the mark with a chance to tie, and Rivers’ half-court attempt to tie again fell short. The eye was black and blue and almost shut. Austin Rivers was forced to take a desperation three at the buzzer.
He’ll also modify is offseason workouts to include some work in the boxing ring with long time friend Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Gerald Henderson has spoken about the how much he values the team’s commitment to developing his game rather than treat him, as a sixth-year player, like a finished product.
“I never stop thinking about improving the team”, Rivers said.
That’s just tough. And it should provide a good reminder to everyone in both the media and fans in general that whatever situations may appear like on the outside, they may look entirely different if you get up close and personal. “He came back in and gave us everything he had”.
Clippers blamed the loss on the injuries to star guard Chris Paul and forward Blake Griffin as they joined the Boston Celtics (1990-93) as the only teams eliminated in four straight playoffs after having series leads.
Portland’s reward for vastly exceeding expectations during the regular season before pulling the West’s only first-round upset?
Crabbe had 13 points and five rebounds off the bench and was on the court to finish the game, a complete 180-degree turn from where he was in the first three games of this series. “We didn’t panic. We did the necessary things to win the game”. “I mean, D.J.’s been great all year, not just this series, so it’s nothing that’s that surprising to me”.
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Jordan was the league’s leading rebounder in the playoffs with a 15.6 average ahead of Game 6.
