Golden State Warriors/Denver Nuggets: Game 5
– I do not expect the Nuggets to come out disheartened. I think they know the magic they have on the floor at home and will not take it for granted tonight.
– For the last three games, it has seemed like the Warriors have dictated the pace and style of play. Early on, the Nuggets seem to be back in their own groove.
– 20-point game at half? Warriors should play bench players the rest of the way. The real chance to take the series will be at home. Might as well be healthy for it.
– Surprise, surprise. When the Warriors do not shoot 60 percent, they are actually beatable.
– I was going to criticize Mark Jackson for leaving in his starters when they are already pretty beat up, especially Stephen Curry, but then they get back in it. Curry and Thompson miss back-to-back three-pointers that would have made it a two-point game with 1:40 to go. Pretty sick considering the Nuggets have been owning this game.
– Back to Oakland we go. Any basketball fan has to be excited for that.
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– Coming back to add a postgame comment on this game. All the talk about the “hitmen” on Curry is surely going to make for a dramatic Game 6. Curry will play fired up (increased exponentially at home), Mark Jackson working to get some backup from the refs.
Memphis Grizzlies/Los Angeles Clippers: Game 5
– Blake Griffin apparently not 100 percent tonight (high ankle sprain). That could make a big difference.
– Also a technical early for Griffin. He is more active than you think an injured player would be. I guess he is ready to fight through it.
– Chris Paul trying to carry the team. He is the best player in the game in the first half, but no one else on the Clippers seems to be too interested.
– The Grizzlies have figured out that to win, they need Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph to play well together. Gasol has three fouls at half, which could be a big deal. Memphis needs them both in down the stretch.
– Right on cue, Gasol and Randolph score the first six points of the half for the Grizz and the Clippers call timeout.
– Not to be outdone by Paul, Mike Conley is having a pretty solid game too.
– I think instead of a Russell Westbrook-less Oklahoma City Thunder, I would rather have the Clippers and Grizzlies play another seven-game series.
– Solid post play is the difference tonight. Randolph and Gasol are beasts, and a hobbled Griffin just could not keep up.
– Huge win on the road for the Grizzlies. That is three in a row and now they have a solid chance to advance with a game at home.
