April 10, 2025 • 36 mins
The Clippers took care of business against the Rockets at Intuit Dome, and benefitted from some chaos in the Western Conference to put themselves in an excellent position to avoid the play-in tournament with two games left. Adam has a full postgame report, the playoff picture, and the thoughts of Clipper Nation.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Phoning in.
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We're taking your calls on the LA Clippers right now.
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This peace Clippers Talk on.
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Aaron on Demand, the Clippers Show of Record.
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Your chance to react to everything.
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Clippers Clippers news happens.
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Let me guess it's about Kawhi.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Here we are and.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Now here it is the host of your LA Clippers
free and postgame.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
At follow Adam a Adam Housley.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
The Clippers. We stood incredibly hot shooting from the Houston
Rockets where they were twenty of forty from three as
the Clippers matched from going nineteen of thirty seven from
the outside and would win here. Add into a Dome.
The Dome is home one thirty four to one seventeen
over the Houston Rockets. The Clippers have won six straight.
(00:45):
They have won sixteen of nineteen. They are searching with
just two games remaining in the regular season, and they
close out the regular season here and into a Dome,
winning thirteen of their last fourteen games here. They ended
up going thirty and eleven in their new home. They
(01:07):
are in this position currently in the five spot in
the West. Without this home court advantage, without the wall,
the swell, without Clipper Nation embracing their new and first
ever home Thank you, Steve Balmer. It worked, it was successful,
(01:33):
and I can't wait to see what it looks like
in a playoff setting. That's what I'm looking forward to next.
But the Clippers still have work to do. They got
help tonight from San Antonio off a Harrison Barnes game
winning three pointer up in San Francisco to beat the
Golden State Warriors. That means if the Clippers can win
in Sacramento on Friday, even if Golden State beats him
(01:55):
on Sunday, they can't move ahead of them in the standings.
Huge implications there with that loss tonight by at Golden
State Warriors. In this win by your LA Clippers six
straight sixteen of nineteen, they have been top two in
offense and defensive rating over the last eighteen games heading
(02:19):
into this ballgame, and they was stood a fifty three
point shooting night from the Houston Rockets. No, they didn't
have all their guys, they were resting, but Reed Shepherd
went off. He had twenty They had six to three pointers.
I mean he hit a three pointer in the face
(02:40):
of Kawhi Leonard just unconscious. Jeff Green went for his
season high of nineteen, four of six from the outside,
Aaron Holliday sixteen, four of six from the outside. They
rose to the occasion. They're tough the Clippers, though they
matched them, they didn't let up. Nothing is more encouraging
(03:03):
from this Clippers team than playing the way they are
leading into the playoffs and consistently not having letdowns. Right now,
even when a team shoots fifty percent from three, the
Clippers don't have a letdown. Incredible Clippers. In that first quarter,
(03:28):
I thought they could pull away early. James Harden was
found on a three pointer and at one point they
led by ten at twenty two to twelve. But the
Houston Rockets weren't going anywhere, and they would show that
hot shooting early in the first where by the end
(03:50):
of the quarter after a holiday three, even though hard
would match him with a three pointer. On the other end,
I read chep three a turnover, a Shepherd steal for
an easy one, and the Clippers, after leading by ten
in the first quarter, are only up thirty six to
thirty five. You could tell right away this was different.
(04:16):
Houston started seven of ten from three. They were scorching hot.
I believe they would then go one for their next eight,
but the three ball would return Nko Batoum, who I
(04:37):
just saw, who was walking around here on the court.
Hear at into a dome or near it and said
postgame he's good. After not playing in the second half
after a groin issue some soreness, Niko Batoum gave them
a huge lift. They needed all of his fifteen points
(04:58):
in the first half, where he cooked and went four
a five from three, He got fouled on one for
a four point play. He made another three. Eventually it
was reviewed, they took it away. They called it a
two pointer. An incredible lift from Saint Nick because after
the Rockets got a three to start the second quarter
(05:20):
from Jeff Green and it hit seven of their first
ten from the outside. Then it was Nico's turn. He
hit a three to make it thirty nine thirty eight.
Clippers another three forty two to thirty eight. Kawhi misses
a floater and then Nico gets fouled on a three
on the same possession, gets the four point play. Clippers
(05:41):
up by six. My goodness, though Jeff Green then hits
another three. They started eight to thirteen from three. The
Clippers are seven of thirteen they're matching them. They have
been playing like anything you can do, I can do better.
Whatever it takes, we don't care. But Tom hit another three.
(06:02):
Then on the right wing forty eight to forty two.
Clippers Tate leap for Houston. Four point game. Then we
saw Kawhi get busy a little bit. Near the end
of the second quarter. The Clippers led fifty four to
forty eight. It's a six point game. Avitza Zubas heads
(06:25):
to the free throw line, hits a couple. Is an
eight point game. Kawhi gets a rebound and goes hard
in transition, splits the defense and just dunks on multiple guys.
Reed Shepherd and Dante were there, didn't matter. Kawhi another steal,
(06:48):
missed a three, but then Harden gets a steal and
Kawhi leonards still on the other end, cherry picking long
outlet pass from Harden, Kawhi layup eight oh run sixty
to forty eight. Kawhi was playing with force and had
six points in the final three minutes of the second quarter.
(07:08):
Started to wake up. He also found Aviasta Zubas on
a nice pass for a push shot, but the Clippers
eventually went on an eighteen to two run. During that
stretch I'm talking about, Harden found Zoo for a big dunk.
They're up sixty six to fifty. Eventually they're up sixty
eight to fifty off an eighteen to two run. By
(07:29):
the end of the half, after it was just a
four point game, they were up seventy one to fifty eight.
Then we got the bad news though, with Nico sore
right growing out for the remainder of the ball game.
He was critical in the first half. He gave him fifteen.
He did enough, said postgame he'll be good. Harden floater
(07:52):
to start the third quarter, Harden fouls gets fouled on
a three to four point play seventy seven fifty eight.
Then after a steal by eathen On Kawhi for a
runout layup far too easy seventy seven to sixty two.
(08:12):
Kawai comes back, turns the corner on one of the
better defenders in the league, Atari Easton, who a lot
of people have compared to Kawhi Leonard. He turned the
corner on him something fierce and threw it down with
a right handed dunk. Dun Will miss a three on
(08:33):
the other end, but dounk came into this ballgame hitting
eighteen of his last thirty nine from the outside, so
now it's nineteen of his last forty from three over
his last eleven games Houston. Though, even with the Clippers
playing this well, even with their hot shooting, they just
(08:54):
refuse to go away. There was a wild player, a
no call on a dangerous play that I couldn't believe
in this ballgame where Harden got stripped by Nate Williams
and Whitmore got clipped by DJ in transition on a dunk.
(09:15):
He fell to the ground awkwardly. I was glad he
was okay. It was a no call. It was kind
of unbelievable, and it led to a Chris Dune three
on the other end, and the Clippers had their biggest
lead at eighty six to sixty seven in the third.
Nineteen was their largest lead in the ballgame. They called
a time out right afterwards and then went more cut.
(09:36):
A lob Zu got a floater off a hardened feed
in the pick and roll to make it eighty eight
to sixty nine. But then Bogie came in for Chris
Dunn at the five point thirty mark. Bogey starwed this
ballgame zero for four, and you could see they ran
a play to him right away. When he came back
(09:58):
late in the third, he got a reverse leg up.
Ninety two to seventy five. Clippers rockets three, ninety two
to seventy eight. Harden lobbed to Zoo, but he couldn't corral.
It was a little bit too high. Aaron Holiday hits
a three. He's about to go on a run. It's
ninety two and eighty one. Clippers were just up by nineteen.
(10:18):
Timeout Clippers DJ lefty floater. It's Zubot's hardened DJ. Kobe
Brown in and Bogeye on the floor. Aaron Holiday scoop layup.
It's a nine point game. Zoo gets to his double
double at this point, his thirteenth in a row, longest
(10:41):
streak of his career double double wise. Kobe Brown then
gets a layup going to his right after the Clippers
went over two minutes scoreless to make it ninety four
to eighty three. Aaron Holiday three again, This is not
the Hall Day vacation I was looking for. Holiday made
(11:02):
it ninety four to eighty six, Clippers DJ three to
answer it, Holiday lay up the other way. What an
Aaron Holiday score here, two, three, five seven. He had
ten points in the span of like two minutes for
the Houston Rockets. Late in the third quarter, Hardwood goes
to the free throw line, hit both as the Clippers
(11:24):
were nineteen of nineteen to the charity stripe, and then
Kobe Brown after he got the layup, hit a three
pointer one O two eighty eight. This was the best
sequence I would say of his career so far. They
needed him. It's the second I have of back to back.
NK goes out viatzuz Zubas played heavy minutes last night,
(11:50):
and Kobe Brown answered the bell. He rose to the occasion.
Jock Landale hit a three on the other end to
answer it. Bogey hit a three to answer that, and
the Clippers are up fourteen at one five to ninety
one entering the fourth. Aaron Holiday three to start the
fourth quarter. It's one O four to ninety five. Then
a careless Chris Dunn turnover in the backcourt. Jeff Green
(12:13):
Steel easy runout nine point game. U Banks tries to
find Kawhi who's short with it. Kawhi Bogie done, Brown
and you Banks are out there to start the fourth.
It is a six point game. After a reed Shepherd
three that made it one oh five to ninety nine. Bogee,
(12:36):
big game, Bogee big shot. Answers with a three right away.
Clippers are up one o eight to one hundred. Early
fourth and Kawhi went to the hoop for a huge throwdown.
He got fouled. He didn't get the dunk. I believe
it was with his left hand, but oh my god,
(12:57):
the force he came with for that throwdown. It would
have been his best since the dunk on the Celtics
last year. He had bad intentions, went to the free
throw line, hit. Both Clippers are up by ten. Bogie
gets a steal, gets fouled after Kawhi three. The Clippers
(13:21):
are up by fifteen at one fifteen to one hundred.
They're starting to gain some separation. The game is turning
into triple double watch with Aviatsa zubats.
Speaker 5 (13:34):
As.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
The Clippers are up one seventeen to one hundred, and
we'll take even further down here after Harden comes in
for Kobe. At the seven thirty four mark, it's won
seventeen to one to oh three. Clippers. Kawhi had a
possession where he was double team lost the basketball somehow
(13:54):
regained it in his balance. It was a wildly impressed
to play from a ball handling standpoint, because I thought
he was gonna lose it. They were blitzing and trapping
him and trying to get the ball out of his hands,
and somehow he was stood that got it back, but
then missed the jumper. Green hit a three. It's eleven
point game again as Jeff Green Uncle Jeff was hitting
(14:19):
knocking him down and had his season high in this
game of nineteen and Harden hit a calming right elbow jumper,
just a silencer shot to put him back up by thirteen.
Then Harden had a great feed to Drew u Banks
(14:41):
for an easy right handed layup. Kawhi, though, gambled right
afterwards and Jeff Green got by him in transition for
a dunk, but out of a timeout it was a
Kawhi layup a bogie three, and the Clippers were up
one twenty six to one twelve. Late in the fourth over,
and Kawhi almost had another huge putback dunk on a
(15:03):
DJ miss on a three pointer on the far side corner.
I mean the explosiveness, the bounce, the pop from Kawhi
was special tonight now what we're watching is if it
beats A Zubots is gonna end up getting his first
triple double. He would off of a three pointer late
(15:24):
from Bogee on the left wing, his buddy. They left
him out there to get the triple double. He got it.
Congrats to a Eatsa Zubots. He finished with oh you know,
twenty eleven, ten assists, nine to thirteen, shooting first triple
double of his career. As Bogie was so clutched in
(15:45):
the second half after starting four, he would hit five
of his seven shots in the second half and get
to sixteen points, his final three points coming on that
three pointer to get Aviatza Zubots his first triple double
as he made the assist in the pass over to
his buddy in Bogee and the Clippers go on to
win one thirty four to one seventeen. Hear it into
(16:06):
a dome over the Houston Rockets. Quick time out, We'll
come back more Clippers dock. I'm out of maslans and
you're listening to the Los Angeles Clippers audio network At
an five seventy, LA Sports.
Speaker 6 (16:20):
Throws it up the window finishes in the foul Los
Angeles Slipper Nation.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
This is your home for the LA Clippers.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
LA Clippers take us with you on the Ihearts radio app.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Hear it into a Dome in their regular season finale
here at the Dome. God bless Steve Balmer. They go
thirty and eleven. Add into a dome this season after
starting off zh to four. You remember the turning point
down twenty six in the first quarter to the San
Antonio Spurs. They came back of Eaza Zubats, played through
(16:53):
a bad first half against Wemby, got the best of
them in the second half, and they came back down
twenty six to get their first ever victory. Hear it
into a home that got things started. They've now won
thirteen to the last fourteen here and they went thirty
and seven after losing the first four games. Into a home.
The Dome is home. There's no place like dome. The
(17:15):
into a Dome eight six six nine, eight seven two
five seventy is the phone number. The good news is this,
Nico Batoum said postgame. He's feeling okay and he'll be fine.
Tweet is right growing, Tweet is growing. Coach lou said,
not sure yet on how severe the right growing injury
(17:36):
is but Nico said he'll be fine Coach Lou. About
Coach Lou on leaving of East zou bots In to
get that triple double postgame quote, Yeah, I usually don't
like doing that bad karma, but he had a chance
earlier this season and I took him out, so I
gave him one more play. That was huge for Zoo
and huge for our team and the morale of our team.
(17:57):
Look at Bogey's face when he hits that shot. He
doesn't even care Harry hit the three. He cares that
because he hit the three. It gotta beat to Zubas
his first triple double ever and the season. This remarkable
for the Clippers, and especially beats to Zubas individually with
his growth, and he talked about it postgame last night.
But a lot of this is just bigger opportunity, been
(18:19):
waiting for it. He ends up with a triple double.
Now unbelievable. Eight six six ninety seven two five seventy.
Jose and Southgate, Jose, you're on Clippers, stop with out
of Mazin.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
What's up? I don't can hear me? All right?
Speaker 4 (18:37):
I got you, Jose, you.
Speaker 5 (18:39):
Know how to call it? In last some home game.
All right, Look, PG was gone, car Landon was out
for an unknown amount of games. We start or and
four into a dome. There was a point of time
you asked me who do who did I want in
the playoffs? I would say, I didn't care. Just get
us there and we're here, baby, I don't care.
Speaker 7 (19:00):
Ok.
Speaker 5 (19:00):
See talking about LAC Lakers are fakers. Nuggets will give Kawhi.
Leonard Jordan's gonna give them buckets. Slap clapart.
Speaker 4 (19:10):
Asea saying, I don't care who we get in the playoffs.
This team's ready. They looked the part. They looked that good.
They've won six in a row, they won sixteen of nineteen.
Most importantly during that stretch they have They came into
this game with the top net rating in the league
over that time, and if you're looking at the teams
(19:32):
around them, it's all the best teams.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
They have.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
The advanced stats that show they're one of the best
teams in the league. Now. Since Kawhi got back to
looking like Kawhi, he had twenty two again, took him
twenty two shots to get there, but he missed a
couple of dunks in this game that would have been spectacular,
and he didn't miss him because oh he's thirty three.
He's not the same. He just missed him because the
(19:59):
ones he made were fierce, nasty dunks. The one in
the first half in transition where he split two defenders
to throw it down was big. Another one where he
missed a floater a little while after that and then
got his own rebound and threw it down with the
right hand in the first half was big. And then
turning the corner on tari Yeason in the second half
(20:23):
or a right hand and throw down. This is last
year's Kawhi. What did I say all season long? If
he gets back to last year's version, the Clippers are
in business. Yeah, they can contend in the Western Conference.
He looks just as good as that stretch we saw
last season where he set the all time efficiency record
(20:44):
over thirty games. Special special for the Clippers to be
peaking at the right time to have a chance at
the four to the five spot in the Western Conference.
They're currently fifth, they went out. I don't believe they
can be worse than fifth. If they get a loss
(21:07):
from Denver and went out, I believe they'll be fourth.
I say I believe because you know, if you look
at some of the seating implications and who needs to
win and who do you need to lose, it's a mess.
(21:28):
I'm looking for Justin Russo for a clarity tweet regarding
what the Clippers need now to end up in the
fourth spot or the five spot, because things are still close.
Denver one tonight against Sacramento, where the Clippers will be
on Friday night. Let's take a quick time out. We'll
(21:51):
come back beats. Zubas gets his first triple double and
gave the game ball away to a kid as he
was walking into the tunnel. More assists for Big Zoo.
I guess he knows, you know, I'll get another one.
It's not that big of a deal. With the way
he is blossoming in front of our eyes right now,
(22:12):
I don't doubt it. They had five assists last night.
Clippers win by seventeen over the Houston Rockets. Here it
into a dome. I'm out a Maslems and you're listening
to the Los Angeles Clippers Audio Network O.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Thrills it up.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
The window finishes in the fowl Los Angeles Slipper Nation.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
This is your home for the LA Clippers. LA Clippers
take us with you on the Ihearts Radio aip.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
Clippers win one thirty four to one seventeen over the
Houston Rockets. Here it into a Dome where this place
has become an absolute fortress. After starting zero to four here,
the Clippers were winners of thirty of their next thirty
(22:59):
seven games here in their new and first ever home
the Into a Dome. They shoot it well here too,
nineteen to thirty seven from three. Rockets shoot it well too.
The Rockets, in all four games this season against the
Clippers have shot no worse than forty eight percent from three.
(23:21):
They are a bottom ten three point shooting team. That
is wild. That is just some real bad luck. Let's
go to Matt in La Matt near a Clippers stop
with out of Malsen.
Speaker 7 (23:37):
What's up, Matt, Hey, Adam, thanks for having me. It's
just been an amazing year. Kind of echo a year
just saying I went to eighteen home games, I did
not see the Clippers lose, and something really cool I
saw tonight was a couple of spunky radio guys having
(23:58):
a touching moment, taken a picture outside the arena, and
I was just wondering, what's this season meant to you,
and what's it been like experiencing this new arena.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
You saw myself and Carlo taking a picture outside the
arena pregame mat I did.
Speaker 7 (24:16):
Yeah, we were.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Doing a TikTok video. We were recording for Carlo.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
Oh, we should.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
Have found you because we were doing a little Clipper
Nation quiz. But to your question, oh.
Speaker 7 (24:29):
Dag, I didn't want to interrupt. I thought you guys
were having a moment.
Speaker 4 (24:34):
Now, no, no, it's all family with Clipper Nation. Please
come up and say hi always. But Matt, I appreciate
the phone call and congratulations on going to eighteen home
games this season and never seeing the Clippers lose. That's
how good they've been. Hearing into it though, this team
means a lot to me, this organization, this season has
(24:59):
been really special. There's work to be done. I know
a lot of this is gonna be defined what happens
in the postseason. It's gonna be defined by what happens
in the postseason. But I do want to appreciate how
good this Clippers team has been. They're forty eight wins, guys,
They're ten wins up on where they're over. Under was
(25:23):
set around thirty seven and a half wins. There are
ten wins above that. Just incredible. I can't say enough
about the heart of this team, the way they have
been able to be resilient with only having Kawhi for
thirty five games. Norreon pal has missed twenty plus games
(25:46):
now wasn't able to go tonight right shoulder issue, but
coach lou said he's good, He's all right. Houston Rockets
weren't playing anybody. Clippers saw that they get by. They
did get by Nico, but Toomb's okay. But the growth
of a beats the Zoubots. You know, That's that's how
(26:07):
a lot of this season is going to be remembered.
The workhorse that James Harden has been for this team,
and Kawhi getting back to looking like himself over the
last fifteen games or so where now the Clippers have
won sixteen of their last nineteen. It's just a group
that has come together and they truly believe they can
(26:29):
do something special. If you listen to Norman Powell last
night in the locker room afterwards, he said it. He
thinks they have that championship pedigree. He thinks they have
what it takes. He knows what it takes. He won
in Toronto with Kawhi and twenty nineteen. So while we
(26:51):
celebrate what this Clippers team has done during the regular
season with two games left, because this is the final
regular season game here at into it dumb, there's also
much to look for two so Clippers have a very
good chance of finishing outside of the plan, which has
been the goal. And the sense of urgency you've seen
(27:13):
over the last couple of weeks where they won six straight,
is because they don't want to end up seventh or
eighth in the Western Conference. And since they put that
pressure on themselves to win, they've looked better than ever
and I think that's very telling. The stakes have raised
(27:34):
and the Clippers did not shrink. No, they're playing better
because they have to right now. They don't have a choice.
These are must win games if you want to stay
out of the plan. That's what I'm most encouraged about.
That's the type of stuff that can translate to the postseason.
(27:55):
Clippers win one point thirty four to one seventeen over
the Houston Rockets, quick time out, come back, We'll close
things out. Hear it into a dome. I'm at a
Maslind and you're listening to Clippers talk. You're on the
five seventy LAS Sports.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
Throws it up.
Speaker 6 (28:11):
The window finishes in the foul Los Angeles Slipper Nation.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
This is your home for the LA Clippers. LA Clippers.
Take us with you on the iheartsradio app.
Speaker 4 (28:22):
Clippers win one thirty four to one seventeen over the
Houston Rockets. Here at into a dome. The dome is home.
I'm at a Maslind celebrating the first regular season hear
it into a dome.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
It was very successful.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
Clippers ended up going thirty and eleven at home. I'm
telling you, guys, they're not in the conversation for being
four or five in the Western Conference. If they didn't
have into a dome, they're not. This home court advantage
has been real, it's been felt. It's a huge advantage
for them. Thank you, Steve Balmer. This was his vision.
(29:05):
This was his dream to create a real home court advantage,
not just to give them their own arena, but to
have it in a unique way that sets itself apart
from everything else, that makes it special Declipper Nation and
makes it difficult for opponents. The wall has done that.
How loud this place gets because of the design. It's
(29:29):
just been a remarkable inaugural year here at into a
dome for the Clippers. It beats. The Zubats got his
first triple double, another special night here, twenty eleven ten
assists and Bogdan Bogdanovich gave it to him hitting that
three pointer near the end of the ball game where
(29:51):
they kept Big Zoo in for him to attain this goal.
Zubat said postgame he told Bogi He's never paying for
a dinner again after making that three pointer to secure
Vats the Zubas's first triple double. James Harden spoke postgame
about how this Clippers team has impacted him. Quote, man,
(30:14):
it's special, really just giving yourself up for something bigger.
Coming into this season. It was no expectations for this team,
for real. You look at the standings. They predicted us
to be thirteenth seed or twelve seed in the West.
Being around these guys from day one, it started in
Arizona when I put that mini camp together, and then
going into training camp and seeing we got something special,
(30:34):
We got some dogs in the locker room. Here we
are with an opportunity to be a four or five
seed in the West and have a pretty good run
in this postseason. They've impacted me in a positive way.
They've made me locking on both ends of the ball
and really just have that competitive mindset to want to
go out and do whatever it takes to win. And
that's the beauty of a team. Unquote. Awesome statement there
(30:58):
from James Harden. He gifted everybody a pair of his
signature V nine shoes. By the way, James Harden been
a blessing for this team. He's just a tank. He's
just a regular season floor raser. Like we haven't seen
(31:18):
his team's never missed the playoffs. Looks like it's about
to happen again. Yeah, you have James Harden, You're making
the playoffs. This was supposed to be the year where
that no longer was the case according to the critics,
where they didn't have enough. Well, Lawrence Frank came out
and put together a roster that was going to have
(31:41):
a defensive identity thanks to Chris Dunn, dj Niko batoumb
being back, Jeff Van Gundhi in the fold. They were
going to commit to being great on the defensive end,
and James Harden pointed out they even got me playing
some defense here, and he has, Like, you can't be
the second best defense in the league if the guy
(32:03):
who plays the most minutes for your team is never
playing defense, it doesn't work that way. He has done
enough on that end. But offensively, of course, him being
that floor raiser and having a system to play through
(32:24):
has made the Clippers a problem for teams. You know
they're going to get stops on you. You know they're
going to struggle at times. When they didn't have Kawhi Leonard.
They did, they were around nineteenth twentieth, but they were
good enough. They were competent enough on the offensive end,
(32:46):
and a lot of that is due to James Harden
Nolmaran Powell, especially earlier in the season of Eats a zoobots.
But I mean, Harden is the system for a reason.
It's all flowing through him. Like this is an incredible
(33:08):
season from a thirty five year old who has the
usage rating of a twenty five year old. That's why
he was an All Star. He should be third team
All NBA. I think if Eats Zubats has a case
for being third team. He also has a case for
Defensive Player of the Year. Making an All defensive team,
most improved player, all those things are on the table,
(33:29):
but still two games to go. I don't want to
reminisce too much about this season. There is work to
be done in Sacramento Golden Won Center. They got a
home court there too. And the Clippers cannot look past
this Kings team, who if they play the same guys
they've played against Denver tonight, they have enough talent to
beat you. They do. And the Clippers have been on
(33:54):
this five game homestand the road hasn't always been as
kind to them this season, but they've been much better
as of late. Well, they need to continue to play
great on the road because that is a game that
cannot turn into a trap game. Treat it the exact
same way, must win. Coach Luke came into the locker
(34:16):
room yesterday at halftime after San Antonio was trailing by
just two against the Clippers and said, we have a
chance to do something special. Come on, let's go. And
they came out own that third quarter, played much better defense,
created seven turnovers with the Spurs, and they got back
to basics. Playing good defense. The defense leads to offense.
(34:43):
They know what they gotta do on Friday night, execute,
get it done. That four seed, that carrot that is dangling,
it is waiting to be had. Clippers got to go
for it. Why because we've seen the difference here it
into a dome, if you got home court in a
(35:04):
seven game series in the first round, something incomprehensible to
many in Clipper Nation coming into this season. Nobody would
have thought that was possible. But with what we've seen
with this home court advantage here and into a dome,
that would mean everything to get home court in the
first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Clippers win won
thirty four to one to seventeen over the Houston Rockets.
(35:26):
They've won six straight sixteen of nineteen, and they head
to Sacramento, head to Norcale for their final two tip
off against the Kings Friday night at seven. Pregame show
at six. Before we get out of here, I do
want to thank the Clippers organization. Ralph Lawler, Brian Seeman,
Noah Eagle. We saw tonight. Check out the pregame show.
We chatted it up with Noah Eagle, Caylojmenez on the call,
Big Brother, Jake Warner, head engineer, Daniel west Our producer
(35:49):
back in the bank. I'm at a maslin. You know.
We'll be back on the YouTube side tomorrow. I'll talk
to you then.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
This has been Clippers Talk right here on your home
for the LA eight Clippers Audio Network. Don't miss a
single edition all season long after every game.
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Clippers Talk Baby,
Phoning in.
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We're taking your calls on the LA Clippers right now.
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This peace Clippers Talk on.
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Your chance to react to everything.
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Clippers Clippers news happens.
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Let me guess it's about Kawhi.
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Here we are and.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Now here it is the host of your LA Clippers
free and postgame.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
At follow Adam a Adam Housley.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
The Clippers. We stood incredibly hot shooting from the Houston
Rockets where they were twenty of forty from three as
the Clippers matched from going nineteen of thirty seven from
the outside and would win here. Add into a Dome.
The Dome is home one thirty four to one seventeen
over the Houston Rockets. The Clippers have won six straight.
(00:45):
They have won sixteen of nineteen. They are searching with
just two games remaining in the regular season, and they
close out the regular season here and into a Dome,
winning thirteen of their last fourteen games here. They ended
up going thirty and eleven in their new home. They
(01:07):
are in this position currently in the five spot in
the West. Without this home court advantage, without the wall,
the swell, without Clipper Nation embracing their new and first
ever home Thank you, Steve Balmer. It worked, it was successful,
(01:33):
and I can't wait to see what it looks like
in a playoff setting. That's what I'm looking forward to next.
But the Clippers still have work to do. They got
help tonight from San Antonio off a Harrison Barnes game
winning three pointer up in San Francisco to beat the
Golden State Warriors. That means if the Clippers can win
in Sacramento on Friday, even if Golden State beats him
(01:55):
on Sunday, they can't move ahead of them in the standings.
Huge implications there with that loss tonight by at Golden
State Warriors. In this win by your LA Clippers six
straight sixteen of nineteen, they have been top two in
offense and defensive rating over the last eighteen games heading
(02:19):
into this ballgame, and they was stood a fifty three
point shooting night from the Houston Rockets. No, they didn't
have all their guys, they were resting, but Reed Shepherd
went off. He had twenty They had six to three pointers.
I mean he hit a three pointer in the face
(02:40):
of Kawhi Leonard just unconscious. Jeff Green went for his
season high of nineteen, four of six from the outside,
Aaron Holliday sixteen, four of six from the outside. They
rose to the occasion. They're tough the Clippers, though they
matched them, they didn't let up. Nothing is more encouraging
(03:03):
from this Clippers team than playing the way they are
leading into the playoffs and consistently not having letdowns. Right now,
even when a team shoots fifty percent from three, the
Clippers don't have a letdown. Incredible Clippers. In that first quarter,
(03:28):
I thought they could pull away early. James Harden was
found on a three pointer and at one point they
led by ten at twenty two to twelve. But the
Houston Rockets weren't going anywhere, and they would show that
hot shooting early in the first where by the end
(03:50):
of the quarter after a holiday three, even though hard
would match him with a three pointer. On the other end,
I read chep three a turnover, a Shepherd steal for
an easy one, and the Clippers, after leading by ten
in the first quarter, are only up thirty six to
thirty five. You could tell right away this was different.
(04:16):
Houston started seven of ten from three. They were scorching hot.
I believe they would then go one for their next eight,
but the three ball would return Nko Batoum, who I
(04:37):
just saw, who was walking around here on the court.
Hear at into a dome or near it and said
postgame he's good. After not playing in the second half
after a groin issue some soreness, Niko Batoum gave them
a huge lift. They needed all of his fifteen points
(04:58):
in the first half, where he cooked and went four
a five from three, He got fouled on one for
a four point play. He made another three. Eventually it
was reviewed, they took it away. They called it a
two pointer. An incredible lift from Saint Nick because after
the Rockets got a three to start the second quarter
(05:20):
from Jeff Green and it hit seven of their first
ten from the outside. Then it was Nico's turn. He
hit a three to make it thirty nine thirty eight.
Clippers another three forty two to thirty eight. Kawhi misses
a floater and then Nico gets fouled on a three
on the same possession, gets the four point play. Clippers
(05:41):
up by six. My goodness, though Jeff Green then hits
another three. They started eight to thirteen from three. The
Clippers are seven of thirteen they're matching them. They have
been playing like anything you can do, I can do better.
Whatever it takes, we don't care. But Tom hit another three.
(06:02):
Then on the right wing forty eight to forty two.
Clippers Tate leap for Houston. Four point game. Then we
saw Kawhi get busy a little bit. Near the end
of the second quarter. The Clippers led fifty four to
forty eight. It's a six point game. Avitza Zubas heads
(06:25):
to the free throw line, hits a couple. Is an
eight point game. Kawhi gets a rebound and goes hard
in transition, splits the defense and just dunks on multiple guys.
Reed Shepherd and Dante were there, didn't matter. Kawhi another steal,
(06:48):
missed a three, but then Harden gets a steal and
Kawhi leonards still on the other end, cherry picking long
outlet pass from Harden, Kawhi layup eight oh run sixty
to forty eight. Kawhi was playing with force and had
six points in the final three minutes of the second quarter.
(07:08):
Started to wake up. He also found Aviasta Zubas on
a nice pass for a push shot, but the Clippers
eventually went on an eighteen to two run. During that
stretch I'm talking about, Harden found Zoo for a big dunk.
They're up sixty six to fifty. Eventually they're up sixty
eight to fifty off an eighteen to two run. By
(07:29):
the end of the half, after it was just a
four point game, they were up seventy one to fifty eight.
Then we got the bad news though, with Nico sore
right growing out for the remainder of the ball game.
He was critical in the first half. He gave him fifteen.
He did enough, said postgame he'll be good. Harden floater
(07:52):
to start the third quarter, Harden fouls gets fouled on
a three to four point play seventy seven fifty eight.
Then after a steal by eathen On Kawhi for a
runout layup far too easy seventy seven to sixty two.
(08:12):
Kawai comes back, turns the corner on one of the
better defenders in the league, Atari Easton, who a lot
of people have compared to Kawhi Leonard. He turned the
corner on him something fierce and threw it down with
a right handed dunk. Dun Will miss a three on
(08:33):
the other end, but dounk came into this ballgame hitting
eighteen of his last thirty nine from the outside, so
now it's nineteen of his last forty from three over
his last eleven games Houston. Though, even with the Clippers
playing this well, even with their hot shooting, they just
(08:54):
refuse to go away. There was a wild player, a
no call on a dangerous play that I couldn't believe
in this ballgame where Harden got stripped by Nate Williams
and Whitmore got clipped by DJ in transition on a dunk.
(09:15):
He fell to the ground awkwardly. I was glad he
was okay. It was a no call. It was kind
of unbelievable, and it led to a Chris Dune three
on the other end, and the Clippers had their biggest
lead at eighty six to sixty seven in the third.
Nineteen was their largest lead in the ballgame. They called
a time out right afterwards and then went more cut.
(09:36):
A lob Zu got a floater off a hardened feed
in the pick and roll to make it eighty eight
to sixty nine. But then Bogie came in for Chris
Dunn at the five point thirty mark. Bogey starwed this
ballgame zero for four, and you could see they ran
a play to him right away. When he came back
(09:58):
late in the third, he got a reverse leg up.
Ninety two to seventy five. Clippers rockets three, ninety two
to seventy eight. Harden lobbed to Zoo, but he couldn't corral.
It was a little bit too high. Aaron Holiday hits
a three. He's about to go on a run. It's
ninety two and eighty one. Clippers were just up by nineteen.
(10:18):
Timeout Clippers DJ lefty floater. It's Zubot's hardened DJ. Kobe
Brown in and Bogeye on the floor. Aaron Holiday scoop layup.
It's a nine point game. Zoo gets to his double
double at this point, his thirteenth in a row, longest
(10:41):
streak of his career double double wise. Kobe Brown then
gets a layup going to his right after the Clippers
went over two minutes scoreless to make it ninety four
to eighty three. Aaron Holiday three again, This is not
the Hall Day vacation I was looking for. Holiday made
(11:02):
it ninety four to eighty six, Clippers DJ three to
answer it, Holiday lay up the other way. What an
Aaron Holiday score here, two, three, five seven. He had
ten points in the span of like two minutes for
the Houston Rockets. Late in the third quarter, Hardwood goes
to the free throw line, hit both as the Clippers
(11:24):
were nineteen of nineteen to the charity stripe, and then
Kobe Brown after he got the layup, hit a three
pointer one O two eighty eight. This was the best
sequence I would say of his career so far. They
needed him. It's the second I have of back to back.
NK goes out viatzuz Zubas played heavy minutes last night,
(11:50):
and Kobe Brown answered the bell. He rose to the occasion.
Jock Landale hit a three on the other end to
answer it. Bogey hit a three to answer that, and
the Clippers are up fourteen at one five to ninety
one entering the fourth. Aaron Holiday three to start the
fourth quarter. It's one O four to ninety five. Then
a careless Chris Dunn turnover in the backcourt. Jeff Green
(12:13):
Steel easy runout nine point game. U Banks tries to
find Kawhi who's short with it. Kawhi Bogie done, Brown
and you Banks are out there to start the fourth.
It is a six point game. After a reed Shepherd
three that made it one oh five to ninety nine. Bogee,
(12:36):
big game, Bogee big shot. Answers with a three right away.
Clippers are up one o eight to one hundred. Early
fourth and Kawhi went to the hoop for a huge throwdown.
He got fouled. He didn't get the dunk. I believe
it was with his left hand, but oh my god,
(12:57):
the force he came with for that throwdown. It would
have been his best since the dunk on the Celtics
last year. He had bad intentions, went to the free
throw line, hit. Both Clippers are up by ten. Bogie
gets a steal, gets fouled after Kawhi three. The Clippers
(13:21):
are up by fifteen at one fifteen to one hundred.
They're starting to gain some separation. The game is turning
into triple double watch with Aviatsa zubats.
Speaker 5 (13:34):
As.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
The Clippers are up one seventeen to one hundred, and
we'll take even further down here after Harden comes in
for Kobe. At the seven thirty four mark, it's won
seventeen to one to oh three. Clippers. Kawhi had a
possession where he was double team lost the basketball somehow
(13:54):
regained it in his balance. It was a wildly impressed
to play from a ball handling standpoint, because I thought
he was gonna lose it. They were blitzing and trapping
him and trying to get the ball out of his hands,
and somehow he was stood that got it back, but
then missed the jumper. Green hit a three. It's eleven
point game again as Jeff Green Uncle Jeff was hitting
(14:19):
knocking him down and had his season high in this
game of nineteen and Harden hit a calming right elbow jumper,
just a silencer shot to put him back up by thirteen.
Then Harden had a great feed to Drew u Banks
(14:41):
for an easy right handed layup. Kawhi, though, gambled right
afterwards and Jeff Green got by him in transition for
a dunk, but out of a timeout it was a
Kawhi layup a bogie three, and the Clippers were up
one twenty six to one twelve. Late in the fourth over,
and Kawhi almost had another huge putback dunk on a
(15:03):
DJ miss on a three pointer on the far side corner.
I mean the explosiveness, the bounce, the pop from Kawhi
was special tonight now what we're watching is if it
beats A Zubots is gonna end up getting his first
triple double. He would off of a three pointer late
(15:24):
from Bogee on the left wing, his buddy. They left
him out there to get the triple double. He got it.
Congrats to a Eatsa Zubots. He finished with oh you know,
twenty eleven, ten assists, nine to thirteen, shooting first triple
double of his career. As Bogie was so clutched in
(15:45):
the second half after starting four, he would hit five
of his seven shots in the second half and get
to sixteen points, his final three points coming on that
three pointer to get Aviatza Zubots his first triple double
as he made the assist in the pass over to
his buddy in Bogee and the Clippers go on to
win one thirty four to one seventeen. Hear it into
(16:06):
a dome over the Houston Rockets. Quick time out, We'll
come back more Clippers dock. I'm out of maslans and
you're listening to the Los Angeles Clippers audio network At
an five seventy, LA Sports.
Speaker 6 (16:20):
Throws it up the window finishes in the foul Los
Angeles Slipper Nation.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
This is your home for the LA Clippers.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
LA Clippers take us with you on the Ihearts radio app.
Speaker 4 (16:31):
Hear it into a Dome in their regular season finale
here at the Dome. God bless Steve Balmer. They go
thirty and eleven. Add into a dome this season after
starting off zh to four. You remember the turning point
down twenty six in the first quarter to the San
Antonio Spurs. They came back of Eaza Zubats, played through
(16:53):
a bad first half against Wemby, got the best of
them in the second half, and they came back down
twenty six to get their first ever victory. Hear it
into a home that got things started. They've now won
thirteen to the last fourteen here and they went thirty
and seven after losing the first four games. Into a home.
The Dome is home. There's no place like dome. The
(17:15):
into a Dome eight six six nine, eight seven two
five seventy is the phone number. The good news is this,
Nico Batoum said postgame. He's feeling okay and he'll be fine.
Tweet is right growing, Tweet is growing. Coach lou said,
not sure yet on how severe the right growing injury
(17:36):
is but Nico said he'll be fine Coach Lou. About
Coach Lou on leaving of East zou bots In to
get that triple double postgame quote, Yeah, I usually don't
like doing that bad karma, but he had a chance
earlier this season and I took him out, so I
gave him one more play. That was huge for Zoo
and huge for our team and the morale of our team.
(17:57):
Look at Bogey's face when he hits that shot. He
doesn't even care Harry hit the three. He cares that
because he hit the three. It gotta beat to Zubas
his first triple double ever and the season. This remarkable
for the Clippers, and especially beats to Zubas individually with
his growth, and he talked about it postgame last night.
But a lot of this is just bigger opportunity, been
(18:19):
waiting for it. He ends up with a triple double.
Now unbelievable. Eight six six ninety seven two five seventy.
Jose and Southgate, Jose, you're on Clippers, stop with out
of Mazin.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
What's up? I don't can hear me? All right?
Speaker 4 (18:37):
I got you, Jose, you.
Speaker 5 (18:39):
Know how to call it? In last some home game.
All right, Look, PG was gone, car Landon was out
for an unknown amount of games. We start or and
four into a dome. There was a point of time
you asked me who do who did I want in
the playoffs? I would say, I didn't care. Just get
us there and we're here, baby, I don't care.
Speaker 7 (19:00):
Ok.
Speaker 5 (19:00):
See talking about LAC Lakers are fakers. Nuggets will give Kawhi.
Leonard Jordan's gonna give them buckets. Slap clapart.
Speaker 4 (19:10):
Asea saying, I don't care who we get in the playoffs.
This team's ready. They looked the part. They looked that good.
They've won six in a row, they won sixteen of nineteen.
Most importantly during that stretch they have They came into
this game with the top net rating in the league
over that time, and if you're looking at the teams
(19:32):
around them, it's all the best teams.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
They have.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
The advanced stats that show they're one of the best
teams in the league. Now. Since Kawhi got back to
looking like Kawhi, he had twenty two again, took him
twenty two shots to get there, but he missed a
couple of dunks in this game that would have been spectacular,
and he didn't miss him because oh he's thirty three.
He's not the same. He just missed him because the
(19:59):
ones he made were fierce, nasty dunks. The one in
the first half in transition where he split two defenders
to throw it down was big. Another one where he
missed a floater a little while after that and then
got his own rebound and threw it down with the
right hand in the first half was big. And then
turning the corner on tari Yeason in the second half
(20:23):
or a right hand and throw down. This is last
year's Kawhi. What did I say all season long? If
he gets back to last year's version, the Clippers are
in business. Yeah, they can contend in the Western Conference.
He looks just as good as that stretch we saw
last season where he set the all time efficiency record
(20:44):
over thirty games. Special special for the Clippers to be
peaking at the right time to have a chance at
the four to the five spot in the Western Conference.
They're currently fifth, they went out. I don't believe they
can be worse than fifth. If they get a loss
(21:07):
from Denver and went out, I believe they'll be fourth.
I say I believe because you know, if you look
at some of the seating implications and who needs to
win and who do you need to lose, it's a mess.
(21:28):
I'm looking for Justin Russo for a clarity tweet regarding
what the Clippers need now to end up in the
fourth spot or the five spot, because things are still close.
Denver one tonight against Sacramento, where the Clippers will be
on Friday night. Let's take a quick time out. We'll
(21:51):
come back beats. Zubas gets his first triple double and
gave the game ball away to a kid as he
was walking into the tunnel. More assists for Big Zoo.
I guess he knows, you know, I'll get another one.
It's not that big of a deal. With the way
he is blossoming in front of our eyes right now,
(22:12):
I don't doubt it. They had five assists last night.
Clippers win by seventeen over the Houston Rockets. Here it
into a dome. I'm out a Maslems and you're listening
to the Los Angeles Clippers Audio Network O.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Thrills it up.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
The window finishes in the fowl Los Angeles Slipper Nation.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
This is your home for the LA Clippers. LA Clippers
take us with you on the Ihearts Radio aip.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
Clippers win one thirty four to one seventeen over the
Houston Rockets. Here it into a Dome where this place
has become an absolute fortress. After starting zero to four here,
the Clippers were winners of thirty of their next thirty
(22:59):
seven games here in their new and first ever home
the Into a Dome. They shoot it well here too,
nineteen to thirty seven from three. Rockets shoot it well too.
The Rockets, in all four games this season against the
Clippers have shot no worse than forty eight percent from three.
(23:21):
They are a bottom ten three point shooting team. That
is wild. That is just some real bad luck. Let's
go to Matt in La Matt near a Clippers stop
with out of Malsen.
Speaker 7 (23:37):
What's up, Matt, Hey, Adam, thanks for having me. It's
just been an amazing year. Kind of echo a year
just saying I went to eighteen home games, I did
not see the Clippers lose, and something really cool I
saw tonight was a couple of spunky radio guys having
(23:58):
a touching moment, taken a picture outside the arena, and
I was just wondering, what's this season meant to you,
and what's it been like experiencing this new arena.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
You saw myself and Carlo taking a picture outside the
arena pregame mat I did.
Speaker 7 (24:16):
Yeah, we were.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Doing a TikTok video. We were recording for Carlo.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
Oh, we should.
Speaker 4 (24:22):
Have found you because we were doing a little Clipper
Nation quiz. But to your question, oh.
Speaker 7 (24:29):
Dag, I didn't want to interrupt. I thought you guys
were having a moment.
Speaker 4 (24:34):
Now, no, no, it's all family with Clipper Nation. Please
come up and say hi always. But Matt, I appreciate
the phone call and congratulations on going to eighteen home
games this season and never seeing the Clippers lose. That's
how good they've been. Hearing into it though, this team
means a lot to me, this organization, this season has
(24:59):
been really special. There's work to be done. I know
a lot of this is gonna be defined what happens
in the postseason. It's gonna be defined by what happens
in the postseason. But I do want to appreciate how
good this Clippers team has been. They're forty eight wins, guys,
They're ten wins up on where they're over. Under was
(25:23):
set around thirty seven and a half wins. There are
ten wins above that. Just incredible. I can't say enough
about the heart of this team, the way they have
been able to be resilient with only having Kawhi for
thirty five games. Norreon pal has missed twenty plus games
(25:46):
now wasn't able to go tonight right shoulder issue, but
coach lou said he's good, He's all right. Houston Rockets
weren't playing anybody. Clippers saw that they get by. They
did get by Nico, but Toomb's okay. But the growth
of a beats the Zoubots. You know, That's that's how
(26:07):
a lot of this season is going to be remembered.
The workhorse that James Harden has been for this team,
and Kawhi getting back to looking like himself over the
last fifteen games or so where now the Clippers have
won sixteen of their last nineteen. It's just a group
that has come together and they truly believe they can
(26:29):
do something special. If you listen to Norman Powell last
night in the locker room afterwards, he said it. He
thinks they have that championship pedigree. He thinks they have
what it takes. He knows what it takes. He won
in Toronto with Kawhi and twenty nineteen. So while we
(26:51):
celebrate what this Clippers team has done during the regular
season with two games left, because this is the final
regular season game here at into it dumb, there's also
much to look for two so Clippers have a very
good chance of finishing outside of the plan, which has
been the goal. And the sense of urgency you've seen
(27:13):
over the last couple of weeks where they won six straight,
is because they don't want to end up seventh or
eighth in the Western Conference. And since they put that
pressure on themselves to win, they've looked better than ever
and I think that's very telling. The stakes have raised
(27:34):
and the Clippers did not shrink. No, they're playing better
because they have to right now. They don't have a choice.
These are must win games if you want to stay
out of the plan. That's what I'm most encouraged about.
That's the type of stuff that can translate to the postseason.
(27:55):
Clippers win one point thirty four to one seventeen over
the Houston Rockets, quick time out, come back, We'll close
things out. Hear it into a dome. I'm at a
Maslind and you're listening to Clippers talk. You're on the
five seventy LAS Sports.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
Throws it up.
Speaker 6 (28:11):
The window finishes in the foul Los Angeles Slipper Nation.
Speaker 1 (28:15):
This is your home for the LA Clippers. LA Clippers.
Take us with you on the iheartsradio app.
Speaker 4 (28:22):
Clippers win one thirty four to one seventeen over the
Houston Rockets. Here at into a dome. The dome is home.
I'm at a Maslind celebrating the first regular season hear
it into a dome.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
It was very successful.
Speaker 4 (28:41):
Clippers ended up going thirty and eleven at home. I'm
telling you, guys, they're not in the conversation for being
four or five in the Western Conference. If they didn't
have into a dome, they're not. This home court advantage
has been real, it's been felt. It's a huge advantage
for them. Thank you, Steve Balmer. This was his vision.
(29:05):
This was his dream to create a real home court advantage,
not just to give them their own arena, but to
have it in a unique way that sets itself apart
from everything else, that makes it special Declipper Nation and
makes it difficult for opponents. The wall has done that.
How loud this place gets because of the design. It's
(29:29):
just been a remarkable inaugural year here at into a
dome for the Clippers. It beats. The Zubats got his
first triple double, another special night here, twenty eleven ten
assists and Bogdan Bogdanovich gave it to him hitting that
three pointer near the end of the ball game where
(29:51):
they kept Big Zoo in for him to attain this goal.
Zubat said postgame he told Bogi He's never paying for
a dinner again after making that three pointer to secure
Vats the Zubas's first triple double. James Harden spoke postgame
about how this Clippers team has impacted him. Quote, man,
(30:14):
it's special, really just giving yourself up for something bigger.
Coming into this season. It was no expectations for this team,
for real. You look at the standings. They predicted us
to be thirteenth seed or twelve seed in the West.
Being around these guys from day one, it started in
Arizona when I put that mini camp together, and then
going into training camp and seeing we got something special,
(30:34):
We got some dogs in the locker room. Here we
are with an opportunity to be a four or five
seed in the West and have a pretty good run
in this postseason. They've impacted me in a positive way.
They've made me locking on both ends of the ball
and really just have that competitive mindset to want to
go out and do whatever it takes to win. And
that's the beauty of a team. Unquote. Awesome statement there
(30:58):
from James Harden. He gifted everybody a pair of his
signature V nine shoes. By the way, James Harden been
a blessing for this team. He's just a tank. He's
just a regular season floor raser. Like we haven't seen
(31:18):
his team's never missed the playoffs. Looks like it's about
to happen again. Yeah, you have James Harden, You're making
the playoffs. This was supposed to be the year where
that no longer was the case according to the critics,
where they didn't have enough. Well, Lawrence Frank came out
and put together a roster that was going to have
(31:41):
a defensive identity thanks to Chris Dunn, dj Niko batoumb
being back, Jeff Van Gundhi in the fold. They were
going to commit to being great on the defensive end,
and James Harden pointed out they even got me playing
some defense here, and he has, Like, you can't be
the second best defense in the league if the guy
(32:03):
who plays the most minutes for your team is never
playing defense, it doesn't work that way. He has done
enough on that end. But offensively, of course, him being
that floor raiser and having a system to play through
(32:24):
has made the Clippers a problem for teams. You know
they're going to get stops on you. You know they're
going to struggle at times. When they didn't have Kawhi Leonard.
They did, they were around nineteenth twentieth, but they were
good enough. They were competent enough on the offensive end,
(32:46):
and a lot of that is due to James Harden
Nolmaran Powell, especially earlier in the season of Eats a zoobots.
But I mean, Harden is the system for a reason.
It's all flowing through him. Like this is an incredible
(33:08):
season from a thirty five year old who has the
usage rating of a twenty five year old. That's why
he was an All Star. He should be third team
All NBA. I think if Eats Zubats has a case
for being third team. He also has a case for
Defensive Player of the Year. Making an All defensive team,
most improved player, all those things are on the table,
(33:29):
but still two games to go. I don't want to
reminisce too much about this season. There is work to
be done in Sacramento Golden Won Center. They got a
home court there too. And the Clippers cannot look past
this Kings team, who if they play the same guys
they've played against Denver tonight, they have enough talent to
beat you. They do. And the Clippers have been on
(33:54):
this five game homestand the road hasn't always been as
kind to them this season, but they've been much better
as of late. Well, they need to continue to play
great on the road because that is a game that
cannot turn into a trap game. Treat it the exact
same way, must win. Coach Luke came into the locker
(34:16):
room yesterday at halftime after San Antonio was trailing by
just two against the Clippers and said, we have a
chance to do something special. Come on, let's go. And
they came out own that third quarter, played much better defense,
created seven turnovers with the Spurs, and they got back
to basics. Playing good defense. The defense leads to offense.
(34:43):
They know what they gotta do on Friday night, execute,
get it done. That four seed, that carrot that is dangling,
it is waiting to be had. Clippers got to go
for it. Why because we've seen the difference here it
into a dome, if you got home court in a
(35:04):
seven game series in the first round, something incomprehensible to
many in Clipper Nation coming into this season. Nobody would
have thought that was possible. But with what we've seen
with this home court advantage here and into a dome,
that would mean everything to get home court in the
first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Clippers win won
thirty four to one to seventeen over the Houston Rockets.
(35:26):
They've won six straight sixteen of nineteen, and they head
to Sacramento, head to Norcale for their final two tip
off against the Kings Friday night at seven. Pregame show
at six. Before we get out of here, I do
want to thank the Clippers organization. Ralph Lawler, Brian Seeman,
Noah Eagle. We saw tonight. Check out the pregame show.
We chatted it up with Noah Eagle, Caylojmenez on the call,
Big Brother, Jake Warner, head engineer, Daniel west Our producer
(35:49):
back in the bank. I'm at a maslin. You know.
We'll be back on the YouTube side tomorrow. I'll talk
to you then.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
This has been Clippers Talk right here on your home
for the LA eight Clippers Audio Network. Don't miss a
single edition all season long after every game.
Speaker 2 (36:06):
The volume is truly impressive.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
And make sure to follow wherever you podcast for special
offer editions.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
Clippers Talk Baby,
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