Game 6: Brooklyn Nets vs LA Clippers
Though I just said that the Clippers won’t look back, they might just look back at this game.
The second night of a back-to-back has been tough for LA this year as Kawhi Leonard has been dealing with Load Management of his knee all season.
Kawhi will most likely sit this game out. Brooklyn will also be without the likes of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Wilson Chandler.
This will be the first time this season that the Nets play the Clippers. The last time they played, Lou Williams hit a game-winning three at the buzzer.
This might be a trap game for the Clippers as though the Nets are without their household names, Spencer Dinwiddie and Caris LeVert have the ability to carry the Nets offense for stretches.
We’ve seen before this season that the Nets have the ability to play spoiler as they went into Boston and Los Angeles (against the Lakers) and came back to beat them both before the season was suspended.
Assuming Kawhi sits out like he has been doing all season long, I see the Nets pulling off the upset and winning.
Record: (4-2, 48-22)
Game 7: Denver Nuggets vs LA Clippers
Losing their second game in Orlando humbles this Clippers team but also gets them even more motivated to finish the season off on a high note.
The last time Denver played against the Clippers, LA blew them out the water. The loss was so derailing to Denver that Coach Mike Malone ripped the team’s effort publicly.
This game also matters in terms of seeding. Currently, the Nuggets are only a game and a half back of the Clippers for the 2nd seed.
Knowing what’s at stake for seeding, this will be the first time that we see what the Playoff Clippers will look like on the floor.
The Clippers will win this low-scoring game that will come down to who can defend and convert opportunities on the other end of the floor.
Record: (5-2, 49-22)
Game 8: Oklahoma City Thunder vs LA Clippers
If you asked me who I think the Clippers will be playing in the 1st Round of the NBA Playoffs, let’s just say they are ending the regular-season against them.
The only two teams I can see at the 7th seed at the conclusion of the seeding games are the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Jazz will just squeak by in the final game of the season and take the 6th seed. This final game of the season will be all about scouting and putting the finishing touches on gameplans and rotations.
Clippers’s teams under Doc Rivers in the past have ended the regular season on a high note. The team will be locked in right from tip-off until the final buzzer sounds.
The LA Clippers will take this one and have their eyes set on the Playoffs.
Record: (6-2, 50-22)
Thoughts on this prediction? Let us know in the comment section.