Game three between the Suns and Clippers heads to the Staples Center as the home team hopes to get a digit in the win column to avoid going down 3-0. We had another great night here at TheOddsBreakers, going 2-0 overall in NBA bets. That makes us 6-1 on the week! Only 1 wager on the NBA today but we feel good about it!
Clippers win (even), 2 units: Game two between the Clippers and Suns was quite the thriller. Although my bankroll was happy to see LAC up by 1 with only seconds left in the 4th quarter (and even happier about my inevitable +6 win), it didn’t feel like the Clippers deserved to be in that position. If you watched the second half of game two, it was clear who the better team was. Or maybe I should say: it was clear who the more motivated team was. Phoenix was crashing the boards on every offensive possession and they were relentlessly scrappy on defense. The Clippers? They just launched threes and hung on to stay in contention. And that they did.
Because of LAC’s immense shooting talent, both in their starters and contributors off the bench, they can stay in games even when they play with little gusto. That’s a pretty amazing reality but it’s not sustainable. In a way, it’s sort of snobby. Because they know how talented they are, their mantra is “we don’t panic.” Just ask Paul George. Personally I find it annoying. Meanwhile, teams like the Suns are built to win championships. Full of all-star talent without ego and led by one of the NBA’s best point guards ever in Chris Paul, this young Phoenix team won’t be an easy out this year or in the years to come. Even without Chris Paul, they seem to have an engrained energy that doesn’t dissipate. They’re young, confident, and bold.
Still, it’s impressive to recognize that a seemingly deflated Clippers team nearly stole a victory in game two. Not many underperforming teams can say that. Recently I’ve read that Kawhi Leonard has been a much more vocal leader on the sidelines. I love that, but Kawhi isn’t on the court right now and Paul George might be an even quieter entity than “the Claw.” Unfortunately, the Clippers are like an unmotivated teenager stuck on videogames and at times they need a boost. Down 0-2 and back at the Staples Center, maybe this is the setup that can provide the mental spark plug they need. If they fall to 0-3 against this feisty Suns team, well… good luck!
Of the many staggering aspects of game two, the Clippers were outscored in the paint 60 to 30. Do you think that’s proof enough that they’re overly dependent on perimeter shooting? I sure do. Regardless, this is a bet on an ultra-talented team that needs a kick in the ass. I’ll expand on more of the nuances between these two teams in my podcast (Laying the Points) later today, but I trust that LAC can express their more aggressive side and muster a win in game three. They’re at home and the Suns are still without CP3– time to step up ClipperNation!
