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LA Clippers and their critics need to relax right now

By Leonard Saldana

Nov 29, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers coaches against the Brooklyn Nets during the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers coaches against the Brooklyn Nets during the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; The LA Clippers stand for the National Anthem prior to the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; The LA Clippers stand for the National Anthem prior to the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

Lights too bright?

The lights were not too bright for Griffin or the rest of the Clippers in the Warriors game, because we have seen the Clippers play elite basketball. In the first round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs in 2014-2015, the Clippers played in the brightest lights to win a hard fought seven-game series as underdogs.

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In the end, the Warriors just executed better than the Clippers and got the kind of dominant start that proved to be insurmountable. After the initial feeling out phase in the first six minutes of the game the Warriors took off. The Clippers were left playing catch up all night long. The bench helped in the second quarter to get it to seven, but once the Warriors got the lead to 27 the game was over.

The Clippers’ starters looked deflated after the first quarter. When playing against top teams they cannot play like that. They need to play perfectly (at both ends of the floor) against Golden State and exploit the Griffin-Jordan tandem in the paint. Griffin needs to be the best player on the court for them to win. He has shown flashes he can play at that level.

It was built up as a must win, but the Clippers fell flat once the game started. This was not Game 7 in the Conference Finals, though. It’s the first game of their season series.

Next: Can Clippers rediscover their dominant form?

It was just one game. They were knocked in the mouth and never recovered. Now, it’s time to get up and show the world you are what we think you are: a championship caliber team. Play loose and have fun. So everyone at this moment can just relax about the LA Clippers. And Chris Paul bouncing back for the first 20-20 game with zero assists in NBA history was a pretty good way to start.

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