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?   

H-TOWN.

2012 NBA Draft Prospects: Dion Waiters

Waiters will add instant energy to any team that drafts him.

G - Dion Waiters - Syracuse - Sophomore
6-4 215 Life Center Academy/ Philadelphia, PA (12/1/1991)

Breakdown: The Orange were ranked in the top five for most of the 2011-12 season and most of their scoring punch was delivered by Waiters. The sophomore from Philly averaged 12.6 points per game in only 24 minutes per game coming off the bench and was effective from 3-point range, connecting on 36-percent of his attempts. Waiters showed great improvement in scoring from his freshman year, where he averaged 6.6 ppg, and raised his field goal percentage from 41-percent to 47-percent. He was also a solid defender in Jim Boeheim's matchup zone and averaged 1.8 steals per game last year.

NBA Skill-Set: Waiters body is NBA ready at 6-4 and 215-pounds with room to add more muscle. His best attribute in college was his Dwyane Wade-like explosion to the basket driving off screens and ability to finish in traffic with highlight reel worthy dunks. Waiters has a solid jumper and uses above-average ballhandling skills to create seperation from defenders to get his shot off. His frame will allow him to force the issue off the dribble and create fouls driving to the basket in isolation situations. He will need to work on decision making in pick-and-roll situations as that really wasn't his role in the Syracuse offense. The most intriguing quality that NBA GMs will like about Waiters is that he came off the bench for all 71 games he played for the Orange, so he should have no discomfort transitioning to a substitute role.

NBA Player could-be-like: James Harden. The physique, athleticism, and bulldoggedness are already there for Waiters. He will have to continue to work on his shooting so he can be more consistent with his percentages from 3-point and the foul line especially. And perhaps he could work on growing a long beard . . . it's really a Philly style anyway.