The high-level competitors the confronted this week allowed them to gauge themselves towards a number of the NBA’s finest groups.
The Clippers have confirmed they will go toe-to-toe with elite groups they usually’ve accomplished so with out coach , who has missed 5 of the final seven video games due to again ache.
And the Clippers displayed their grit once more Friday in a over the Memphis Grizzlies on the Intuit Dome.
The seventh-seeded Clippers not solely moved to 2½ video games behind the fifth-place Grizzlies with their fifth consecutive win, however additionally they swept the season sequence 3-0. The Clippers (40-30) are only one sport behind sixth-place Golden State.
“We wish to deal with ourselves and win as many video games as we are able to,” mentioned Clippers middle Ivica Zubac, who had one other double-double with 17 factors and 10 rebounds. “However on the similar time, each evening I’m watching the video games, watching the groups in entrance of us, groups which can be behind us within the standings, hoping they lose — I’m being a hater. … However now, we’re making an attempt to win as many video games as we are able to, deal with us and see the place that takes us.”
led the Clippers with 30 factors and 9 assists. He was 5 for 10 from three-point vary, giving him 202 on the season. He joined and as the one gamers in franchise historical past to make a minimum of 200 threes in a season.
had a double-double with 23 factors and 10 rebounds. received again within the groove, scoring 14 factors. Powell, who was one for 2 from three-point vary, has made 448 three-pointers with the Clippers, pushing him previous Lou Williams for seventh on the group’s all-time record.
“Clearly we’re taking part in our butts off and discovering the rotations, who’s taking part in nicely and going with that,” Harden mentioned. “We received a full roster. We’ve been ready on this second the whole yr and now we’re right here to the place we really see some good Clipper basketball. So, for us it’s simply determining who’s taking part in nicely, what works and what doesn’t work and within the midst of that making an attempt to win video games.”
With Lue at residence, Clippers assistant coach Brian Shaw was on the helm. The Clippers are 5-1 underneath his steering.
Earlier than the sport, Shaw was requested how being in control of a group is totally different from being an assistant.
“Loads much less sleep,” Shaw mentioned, laughing.
Shaw led the Clippers to a formidable win Tuesday evening , who had the perfect report within the NBA. On Sunday in Inglewood, the Clippers meet an Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder group that has the perfect report (58-12), and Shaw can be prepared.
“Each sport is a must-win for us,” Zubac mentioned. “So, we’re feeling good, we’re taking part in good. I feel we’re in rhythm proper now and it’s clearly going to be a problem. I feel that’s the perfect group within the league all through the entire yr. … I don’t know if it’s going to point out the place we’re at, nevertheless it’s going to be problem for us.”
Assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy missed his second straight sport coping with a household medical concern. He received’t return to the Clippers for a minimum of a few weeks, the group mentioned.
