Clippers, Warriors eager for series
OAKLAND, Calif. — The alley-oops in Lob City, deep 3-pointers by the Splash Brothers and the overall bitterness between the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors should make for one of the most entertaining matchups in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
“As far as a series, it’s a 10,” said former New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, who will have a front-row seat on the ABC broadcasting team for Game 1 in Los Angeles on Saturday (WATN Channel 24, 2:30 p.m.).
Whether the highoctane style and 3-point prowess both teams play with can carry either to a championship remains to be seen.
In an age when the pace typically slows down in the playoffs and offenses get bunched in half-court sets, the Clippers and Warriors are trying to speed it up and spread it out.
“It will be a fun matchup,” Clippers guard Jamal Crawford said. “It’s two teams who are both exciting and both love to get up and down the court.”
The highflying frontcourt of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, coupled with point guard Chris Paul and 3-point shooters all over the roster make the Clippers one of the most fan-pleasing spectacles in the league. Los Angeles led the NBA in scoring this season, averaging 107.9 points per game.
“Incredible offensive juggernaut,” Van Gundy called them.
The quick- shooting “Splash Brothers” — Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson for Golden State — are as dangerous as any duo in the league. They combined to make 484 3-pointers this season, eclipsing their NBA record of 483 set last season.
“The greatest shooting backcourt in NBA history,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson has repeatedly labeled them.
The Clippers and Warriors also have something rare these days: real animosity that could fuel physical play.
“They hate one another,” said former Pacers guard and current TNT analyst Reggie Miller.
The last major squabble came in Golden State’s win on Christmas Day in Oakland, when Griffin and Warriors reserve Draymond Green were ejected and Andrew Bogut had dust-ups with Griffin and Paul. Earlier this season, the Clippers even refused to hold pregame chapel with the Warriors in Los Angeles, something every other team does in the league.
The verbal accusations heated up again this week when Thompson was asked to describe Griffin’s play. He said the Clippers’ All-Star forward is “out of control” and compared him to a “bull in a china shop.”
“Like, how can a guy that big and strong flop that much?” Thompson told KGMZ.
DEVELOPMENTS
’Melo unhappy: Carmelo Anthony wore a red baseball cap with the letters “NY” on the front Thursday and talked about wanting to remain a Knick. But he also sounded tormented about not being in the playoffs for the first time in his 11-year career.
He called it “embarrassing” and “a failure,” and said he wants to play for a contender next season.
That might not be with the Knicks unless new president Phil Jackson can wield some magic with a team that’s over the salary cap, has few assets to trade and no draft picks this year.
“I want to come back,” Anthony said. “But I also want to win. If we can put ourselves in position to at least compete at a high level ... then I’m willing to stay here and I’m willing to ride or die for New York.”
Top-seeded Indiana won’t have Andrew Bynum for its firstround series against Atlanta, which opens Saturday in Indianapolis.