The Los Angeles Clippers, at 42-25 and sitting in 4th place in the Western Conference, lost their last game despite the offensive performance of Kawaii Leonard and Paul George, who combined for 54 points in a loss to the Hawks. This defeat marks their fourth setback in the last five games. As they prepare for the first game of a back-to-back series in Portland, they will aim to reverse their recent setbacks in their race for home ground in the first round of the playoffs. On the other side, the Portland Trail Blazers, with a disappointing 19-49 record and 14th in the Western Conference, were eliminated from the playoffs. Their recent form reflects their struggles, losing four of their last five games, including their last defeat against the Chicago Bulls despite standout performances from Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton.
The Clippers have beaten the Balzer in both of their games this season.
On and off the field
The Clippers find themselves in a bit of a bad situation and the Pelicans are getting closer to their fourth seed position in the Western Conference standings. Paul George addressed the media: “I mean, that’s what we seem to look like, which is not good. Not good. We want to be a cohesive team and we want to establish an identity. I’ve always talked about having an identity and I think it’s extremely important. When you’re a team that has an identity, teams know what they’re up against. At the moment, I don’t think we have an identity. Head coach Ty Lue echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the need for consistent effort throughout games and recognizing the challenges of facing younger, faster teams. George continues to shine individually, averaging 22.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while maintaining a 40.0 percent three-point shooting percentage. However, heading into the playoffs, the Clippers need to get things going with veteran leaders to outperform teams they can’t overtake.
Off the field, George finds himself in a contractual void, with discussions for a possible extension yet to yield results despite his five-season tenure with the organization. In a recent article, John Hollinger of The Athletic speculated on George’s situation, suggesting that if a maximum extension had been presented, George likely would have signed it by now. “The Clippers are deep in tax and don’t control their own first-round pick through 2030. Their best players are 32, 33 and 34, and they may have no choice but to pay two this summer and keep trying to push that rock up the hill. (Keep an eye on Paul George, by the way. Presumably, if there was a max extension for him, he would have it signed now; I think it’s fair to say a few caps East Hall teams are “monitoring” that.)” Amid speculation, the Philadelphia 76ers emerged as potential suitors for George during the offseason , given their unique status as a contending team with available cap space. While there is no concrete indication of George’s interest in Philadelphia, they stand out as one of the few teams capable of offering him both maximum financial incentives and a competitive environment. All this in peak season!?
Closing is not enough
The Portland Trail Blazers faced a daunting 15-point fourth-quarter deficit against the Chicago Bulls, struggling with their outside shooting and unable to contain the offensive prowess of DeMar DeRozan. Despite the adversity, the Blazers showed their resilience, mounting a furious rally that briefly saw them take a late lead, only to fall short in a close 110-107 loss at the United Center. Anfernee Simons spearheaded the Blazers’ offensive charge with an impressive performance, tallying 30 points and nine assists, while Deandre Ayton contributed 25 points and 15 rebounds. When thinking about the game, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups commented on his team’s fighting spirit, saying“But the Blazers and dropouts have rarely gone well together this season and that proved to be the case once again in Chicago.”
Despite the loss, Billups acknowledged the team’s improved ball movement and fast play in the fourth quarter, noting, “We found a way to start moving it…And we gave ourselves a chance, which was great.” However, despite the efforts, the Blazers ultimately could not overcome the Bulls’ execution late in the game. The game ended in a tense sequence as Anfernee Simons attempted a last-second three-pointer, but failed to make the shot before the buzzer sounded. “I thought it was close, I thought it was very close,” Billups expressing disappointment in the timing of the whistle. The Blazers’ early struggles, particularly with sharing the ball in the first half, contributed to their deficit, as Billups noted: “We didn’t do a good job of sharing the ball in the first half.” . However, the team showed progress in the final quarter, demonstrating the ability to play their preferred style of fast-paced basketball and giving themselves a chance to compete until the very end.
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Best Bets
Full Game Side Bet
Rating:
The Clippers have been effective as favorites this season, posting a solid 29-24 ATS record in such situations. Additionally, with their 4th place in the Western Conference slipping away from the Pelicans, the Clippers have significant motivation to perform well in this matchup. On the other hand, the Portland Trail Blazers, while capable of putting up a fight at home, have struggled to cover the spread with a 15-20 ATS record at home this season. Additionally, their position outside of the playoffs suggests they might lack the firepower needed to take on the Clippers’ all-star lineup. Therefore, taking the Clippers -11.5 seems like a wise choice, as they have more to fight for and the star power to knock Portland out of the gym on any night.
Prediction: Los Angeles Clippers -11.5
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Total choice of the complete game
Rating:
Given the Clippers’ impressive defensive stats, including their top-10 ranking in opponent’s field goal percentage and their ability to block shots, it’s clear they pose a challenge for Portland. The Blazers, with a relatively average home over/under record, might struggle to compete with the Clippers’ defensive size and length. Additionally, although the Clippers have been inconsistent in their offensive performance on the road, their defensive strength suggests that they could keep the score relatively low in this game. James Harden and Paul George have things going on off the court that could influence where they play in Los Angeles next season as the Clippers try to pull themselves out of this skid in the West standings.
Prediction: Under 216.5
