NBA Trash Talk: 'NOT Just What the Doctor Ordered', Los Angeles Clippers Epic Playoff Collapse

Like Doc Rivers said after the Los Angeles Clippers lost Game 7 in Houston, "We were up 3-1 with only one home game left."  Being up 3-1 in a playoff series is better than being down 1-3, yes, but Doc knew what a very dangerous and scary situation his team was currently in: up 3-1 in a playoff series in which Chris Paul missed the first two games; up 3-1 in a series where Games 3 and 4 in Staples Center Los Angeles were 25+ point blowouts in favor of the Clippers; up 3-1 in a series where you get big contributions from Austin Rivers (17 points in Game 1, 25 in Game 3) off the bench.  In this situation, the most dominant enemy is always complacency. 

How easy to go into Game 5 in Houston (after all, the Rockets appeared to be already mentally constructing offseason travel plans following the 128-95 Game 4 blowout) and thinking 'we can win this game sleepwalking, or even if we don't, Game 6 is at home, and we want to win this series in front of the home fans anyway, so they can witness us make the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.'  How easy it looked in Game 6 when the Clippers unleashed a 3rd quarter run that included a circus, no-look 180-degree layup by Blake Griffin, which at the time seemed like the highlight of the game and the Clippers coronation to the NBA semis and rise from the era of yesteryear; away from the Donald Sterlings, Michael Olowokandis, and Danny Mannings.  How easy it all looked until Josh Smith (inexplicably through any form of human logic) transformed himself into the second coming of Earvin "Magic" Johnson, and put the entire Houston Rockets organization on his back in the 4th quarter of that same Game 6, erasing a 19-point deficit faster than Blake Griffin can change the radio station in his Kia Optima.  It's like Kevin McHale channeled Rudy Tomjonavich's 'don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion' speech, morphing Smith into Magic, Dwight Howard into Hakeem Olajuwon, and Corey Brewer into Mario Elie circa 1995. 

The nightmare became reality so quickly for the Clippers.  You could see the look on their faces.  That 'we had a 3-1 lead, and now we have to play a Game 7 on the road' look.  That 'how did we give up 40 points in a quarter that James Harden did not play a single minute in' look.  That 'goddammit J.J. Redick, please hit an open f*#%ing 3-point look!' look.  That 'maybe we're just the same ole Clippers' look.  But these weren't the same Clippers.  Remember in the first round when they beat the defending champion San Antonio Spurs down 3-2, including a huge Game 6 win on the road?  That was supposed to be the curse eclipsing moment.  Paul's one-legged runner on a bad hamstring to clinch the series in Game 7.  The biggest challenge this team ran into was being the favorite and being up 3-1.  Bet they wish they can all go back to Game 5 and really heed the advice of coach Rivers to not get complacent.  Where's Blake's time-traveling Optima when you need it?   

2015 NBA Playoffs: 'Walking On Water'

Curry made an NBA record 286 triples.

A lttle bit of water never hurt anybody.

But a monsoon, it could kill you.

That's what life is like for any team going up against Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and the 2015 Golden State Warriors. The outside jumpers start splattering like heavy drizzle. Then it turns into a downpour.

Before you even realize what just happened, you're already facing a double-digit deficit.

Knee deep in a thunderstorm. Drenched. Dishelved. And helplessly soggy.

The rain is gonna fall, and there's really nothing you can do to prevent it. However, there are certain things that you can do to weather the storm. In the case of opponents for Curry and Thompson, the same idea rings true. Those guys are gonna get theirs; we've all seen streaks where both have been absolutely unhumanly unguardable. But they are human (and somewhat guardable) and implementing focus on minor details can give some FEMA-like aid in avoiding a complete disaster. Here are some fundamental ways of weathering the barrage of wetness that is the 2015 GSW.

Find the shooters in transition.

Green can getter under your skin in more than one way.

Most teams in the league demand that you sprint back on defense and defend the paint to deter easy transition scoring opportunities. It's the opposite when facing the Warriors. Priority is defending the three-point line. Depending on who is on the floor at the time, you may need to send only one or two players back to defend the paint while the rest of your team seeks out guys on the perimeter. Draymond Green loves to float towards the short corner or trail to the top of the key on the break.

Don't go under screens in pick-and-roll situations.

If you don't plan defensively on switching every screen in pick-and-roll situations, the on ball defender should fight for his life to get over the top of the screen. Yes, it leaves the defense susceptible to the roll man (usually Andrew Bogut, Green) getting alot of free space to the basket but would you rather take your chances with the backside of the defense, or getting burned by one of the Splash Bros. on a wide-open, in-rhythm look at a three-point jumpshot?

One shot.

He scored 37 in a quarter...a quarter!

The last thing you need is to give Curry or Thompson a second chance at a three-point shot on a single possession. Defensive rebounding is important in every game but it's paramount against the Warriors. These guys never met a shot they didn't like and won't hesitate to jack multiple three-point attempts on a single trip if you give them the opportunity.

Get you're umbrellas ready.

Be prepared for a Curry or Thompson epic scoring run. These guys are consistently on heat-check mode and won't hesitate to fire a shot off early in the shot clock. The worst thing you can do is try match their efforts with quick shots that takes you're own offense out of its rhythm. Keep trudging and eventually some of the flood will subside. Just remember that even with an umbrella, if you stand in the rain for 48 minutes, you're bound to get wet.