Tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET the Los Angeles Clippers will try to avoid elimination in one of the NBA's most difficult road environments when they face the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in a Western Conference Playoffs Game 6 that can be live streamed free by clicking this link. Spurs fans can hear the game on 1200 WOAI, while Clippers fans may do likewise on KFWB 980.
After a brutal loss in Game 5 that included blowing an early double-digit lead on their home floor and controversial goaltending call late in the fourth quarter, the Clippers are probably having flashbacks to their collapse in last year's playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Head coach Doc Rivers is hoping that's not plaguing them, but that his guys are drawing experience from that debacle.
"That was a tough one last year. I'm assuming every experience you go through has to make you better, stronger, more mentally tough," Rivers said. "So I'm hoping."
One thing Los Angeles has going for them is Blake Griffin. He proven basically unstoppable in this series, going for multiple 30-plus point games. The problem is that in both of those explosions, the Clippers have walked away losers. Defensively, they need Griffin to step up and help check Tim Duncan, who posted 21 points and 11 boards in Game 5.
The Clippers also need much more from their bench, particularly Jamal Crawford, who shot a woeful 4-of-15 from the field in Game 5. With Griffin and DeAndre Jordan punishing the Spurs for dual double-doubles, the Clippers needed just a little bit more to put them over the edge.
They have won in San Antonio already this series, so Chris Paul is not letting the team hang their heads about Game 5.
"It's tough, but we can't get (Game 5) back," Paul said. "We've got to go to San Antonio and play with a sense of urgency."
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