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Los Angeles Clippers 2018-2019 Schedule Breakdown: April

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 11: Montrezl Harrell #5 and Boban Marjanovic #51 of the LA Clippers react to a play during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 11, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 11: Montrezl Harrell #5 and Boban Marjanovic #51 of the LA Clippers react to a play during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 11, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 30: Patrick Beverley
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 30: Patrick Beverley /

Game 81: LA Clippers at Golden State Warriors

Sunday, April 7 at 5:30 PM

Last season: Warriors won series 3-1

There are two different ways that this game could go. One results in a Clippers victory, and one does not. Let’s start with the first scenario.

Scenario A: The Golden State Warriors are locked into a favorable playoff seed, rest their starters, and concede the game.

Assuming this season follows the same trend as the last few (and it should, because the Warriors are still very much the Warriors), Golden State will land a top-four seed in the West and earn home court advantage.

What’s more, DeMarcus Cousins will be playing for Golden State, so the chances they land said seed are even more favorable than before — hard to believe, right?

Simply put, in this situation, the Warriors will have virtually nothing to play for. And even if LA doesn’t either, the chances their starters play the game are much higher than that of Golden State’s.

Scenario B: The Golden State Warriors are neck-and-neck with another team (probably the Rockets) for the top overall seed, and need a victory to secure home court advantage. 

If this scenario ends up being more true than the first, expect the Clippers to get smothered. A healthy Warriors squad that has something to play for is arguably the most lethal in league history, and it would take a colossal effort on LA’s end to upset them.

However, motivation to knock off the league’s best team this late in the season could fuel the Clippers to that unlikely victory. After all, stranger things have happened, and LA could end up needing this game even more than the Warriors do.

In any case, a victory will be difficult, and I’m of the impression that the playoff race will be rather tight this season, especially up top in the Western Conference standings. The Warriors take this one, and Scenario B becomes the reality.

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