The Donald Sterling situation is embarrassing for the NBA, but there is still basketball left to be played. The Clippers have been put in an unfortunate and awkward situation. Everyone is weighing in and some are asking the players to take a stand, but the Clippers have already stated that they will play Game 4 as planned.
The Clippers hold a 2-1 series lead, but a questionable call at the end of regulation has left a sour taste in the Warriors’ mouth. Steph Curry had an opportunity to win the game in the winding seconds, but Chris Paul checked him with his forearm and it was enough to disrupt his motion. The Clippers have taken back their home court advantage and will look to take a commanding 3-1 lead tonight.
Players To Watch
It is hard to ignore the Sterling fiasco, but if one player is equipped to handle all the media attention, it’s Chris Paul. Not only is he the leader off the court, but he will try and get his team solely focused on the game. Expect a big game from Paul tonight in effort to attract attention away from the Sterling situation.
DeAndre Jordan had a monster performance in Game 3, scoring 14 points and grabbing 22 rebounds. Jordan has really taken advantage of Andrew Bogut’s absence and has had his way in the paint. Jordan was one of the players that somewhat spoke out on the subject, so expect a lot of emotion from Jordan tonight. With Griffin commanding so much attention, Jordan is able to use his athleticism to dominate the glass and score easy buckets.
The Warriors must control the Clippers’ role players tonight. They cannot allow the likes of Darren Collison, J.J. Redick, and Glen Davis to fill up the stat sheet. Jamal Crawford is a streaky scorer and must be forced into taking difficult shots. The Clippers have one of the deepest teams in the league, so the Warriors must focus on the defensive end of the court if they want to tie this series at two.
Keys To A Victory
Shoot The Three Ball Better: In Game 3 the Warriors shot 6 for 31 from beyond the arc, which is only 19. 4 percent. If the Warriors want a chance at winning this game they must shoot the three ball with some consistency. Curry is arguably the greatest shooter in the league and his Splash Brother Klay Thompson isn’t too far behind. In Game 3 they shot a combined 5 for 19 and the only other Warrior to hit a three was Draymond Green. The Warriors have to get the ball to Thompson and Curry, they are your best bet from three.
Limit Turnovers: The Warriors once again committed more turnovers in Game 3 and that is something that they must correct in Game 4. There is no secret that the Clippers are a scoring machine and they feed off your turnovers. If the Warriors are able to take care of the basketball and Curry is able to shoulder the load tonight, this series should be going to Los Angeles tied at two games a piece.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOQCbOoVf0E
L.A. Clippers (3) at Golden State Warriors (6)
12:30 p.m. PST, April 27, 2014
Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
TV: ABC
Series: Clippers Lead 2-1