Clipps Advance to the 2nd Round; Lakers Can Clinch Tonight
Last night the Clippers beat the Nuggets in Game 5 to win the series 4-1 and advance out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in 30 years. Back in 1976 they were the Buffalo Braves and finished the season 46-36. (This year the Clippers finished 47-35, although they probably could have had a better record if it weren't for an end-of-the-season slump... but then they would have gotten bushwhacked by the Mavs...)
Tonight L.A.'s more renowned team plays its 5th game in the series, with an opportunity to advance. The Lakers take on the Suns in Phoenix tonight, up 3-1 in the series. This going up against the team with the back-to-back MVP (Nash) and this year's Most Improved Player (Diaw). But with a soft interior, a sidelined Amare, an injured Tim Thomas, and some unlucky bounces/breaks, it's clearly not been enough.
Will the Lakers take the series tonight? I hope so, I'd like to see and LA/LA WCSF matchup. A lot of it depends on Phoenix's poise coming into this game. Will they have the demeanor of a team that still believes in itself, or will they have mentally resigned this series (a malaise the Nuggets have exhibited throughout their first round against the Clipps)? If the Suns come out with confidence and vigor - which I expect they will - it should be another nail-bitter of a game. While statistically the Lakers have the upper hand in the series (historically, 96% of teams leading 3-1 end up winning the series), it would be foolhearty to discount the Suns at this point. This is a streaky team, and winning three straight is certainly not something I'd put past them.
In any event, if tonight's game is anything like the last four, it should be both down to the wire and most exciting!