Rowan Kavner
PLAYA VISTA, Calif. - A mixture of excitement and surprise set in for the Clippers as they watched the final games wrap up, cementing an unanticipated matchup against the defending champions.
The likelihood the Clippers would draw the Spurs was minimal Wednesday night. In fact, only one scenario existed where they’d earn the No. 3 seed and have to play San Antonio. But the Clippers aren’t feeling sorry for themselves.
“You have to get over that,” said Jamal Crawford. “They could be saying the same thing, they won 21 out of 25 games, moved up a couple spots, lost one game and dropped to sixth. That’s just the way the West is. There’ll be no easy routes.”
The Clippers were the only team to go 7-0 in April and play a Spurs team that’s also hot, winning 11 straight games before losing the regular season finale to the Pelicans.
Prior to that loss, it seemed likely the Clippers would face the Grizzlies. DeAndre Jordan figured that’d be the matchup, given there were four scenarios entering Wednesday night where that would happen.
That’s not the way it worked out, though, and Jordan and the Clippers aren’t complaining. He said he’d rather play the Spurs now while they’re fresh rather than later in the playoffs when they might be more banged up.
“We didn’t know, but we’re excited, and we’re ready to accept the challenge,” Jordan said. “A lot of teams don’t want to play the Spurs, but no matter what, first round, second round, conference finals, you have to go through those guys anyway. It’s going to be a big test for us, but we’re ready.”
As head coach Doc Rivers said, ‘Why worry about it?’ The Clippers did what they were supposed to do down the stretch by winning games.
“It is what it is” seems to be the prevailing thought. In fact, those were the exact words from Chris Paul.
He knows about the Spurs’ rings (they have five). He knows about their division titles (they have 20). They have a coach in Gregg Popovich that Rivers said all coaches want to be like. Meanwhile, Paul knows the Clippers are still trying to rewrite their own history.
“They’ve got a lot of championships, played in a lot more postseason games then us,” Paul said. “I’m sure there’s a laundry list of things they’ve done more than us.”
But Paul’s not concerned about any of that. He’s also not concerned that the Clippers got swept by the Spurs in the postseason three years ago. Three Clippers players remain on the team from that series, while 10 remain for San Antonio.
“If we’re not better prepared now than we were three years ago, we probably shouldn’t even play,” Paul said. “I would like to think we are, but there’s only one way to find out, and that’s to play.”
Most questions the Clippers fielded Thursday centered on whether or not they felt robbed having to draw the Spurs in the first round in a 3-6 matchup. But Crawford said it’s not disheartening. It’s a tough matchup for both sides, and he said that’s what makes it so fun.
As Crawford and Jordan both pointed out, the Spurs can’t be thrilled in their situation.
“I’m pretty sure they’re wondering, ‘How did we end up with the sixth seed in the first round,’” Jordan said. “The West is so tough. Everybody was winning, so it’s not like it was going to be easy. They thought they were going to be a two seed and now they’re the six seed.”
Crawford said “all roads lead through” the Spurs to the NBA Finals. He said the biggest challenge the Spurs bring is their consistency. Whether they’re up or down double digits, he said their play and body language don’t change.
What impressed Jordan most about the Spurs is their experience and knowledge of what it takes to win a championship and when to turn on the intensity. He said their mental toughness is better than anyone’s in the NBA.
“They’ve been through everything they could have gone through to be champions and they don’t really get rattled,” Jordan said. “Even if they’re down 15, they’re still going to play the same way and play Spurs basketball. A lot of times it gets them back into the game and they win late in the fourth quarter because other teams break down when they stay strong and stick to their principles.”
Rather than try to model their game after the Spurs, the Clippers’ focus is on being themselves. After all, that’s what got them a top three seed in one of the strongest conferences the NBA’s ever seen.
“If we all just played with a straight face out there, a lot of people would wonder if we really cared,” Paul said. “I think we just play. We have to be who we are.”