Warriors vs Clippers Playoffs Game 5 Preview – Winner Will Be In The Driver’s Seat

Warriors vs Clippers Playoffs Game 5 Preview – Winner Will Be In The Driver’s Seat (Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press)

Golden State Warriors (2-2) at Los Angeles Clippers (2-2)

Tip-off: Tuesday, April 29th, 2014 – 7:30PM PDT

Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

Spread: Los Angeles (-6.5), meaning Clippers are 6.5-point favorites per VegasInsider.com

TV: TNT / CSN Bay Area | Radio: KNBR 680 AM

Livetweet: @LetsGoWarriors (by @samesfandiari)

Probable Starting Lineups: (Stats are from Playoffs only now)

Warriors:

PG: Stephen Curry (14.0 PPG, 7.0 APG, 3.0 RPG)

SG: Klay Thompson (22.0 PPG, 5.0 APG, 7.0 RPG)

SF: Andre Iguodala (8.0 PPG, 3.0 APG, 1.0 RPG)

PF: David Lee (20.0 PPG, 3.0 APG, 13.0 RPG)

C: Jermaine O’Neal (13.0 PPG, 1.0 APG, 3.0 RPG)

HEAD COACH: Mark Jackson (122-109) Playoff Record: (7-7)

Clippers:

PG: Chris Paul (28.0 PPG, 8.0 APG, 7.0 RPG)

SG: JJ Redick (22.0 PPG, 2.0 APG, 2.0 RPG)

SF: Matt Barnes (2.0 PPG, 3.0 APG, 3.0 RPG)

PF: Blake Griffin (16.0 PPG, 3.0 APG, 3.0 RPG)

C: DeAndre Jordan (11.0 PPG, 0.0 APG, 14.0 RPG)

HEAD COACH: Doc Rivers (644-499) Playoff Record: (65-58)

Previous Matchup:

4/27/2014 GSW 118, LAC 97 – After Hearing everything the Owner Donald Sterling had this build up to be one of the most anticipated games in recent weeks. The Warriors were able to come out early and get the Roaracle rocking. The Clippers looked to be lost while the Warriors took advantage. Stephen Curry finished with 33 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assist. Curry also finished with 7 3-pointers.

Keys to the Game:

1) Get off to an early lead and have the Clippers think about things other than basketball. If the splash brothers can hit theirs jimmies then it will give chances for the remaining players.

2) Make Blake Griffin a jump shooter. Make him shoot the ball from 14-20 feet out. The Warriors can allow Griffin to dominate the paint and make the defenders look silly.

3) The Warriors have to use this adversity in their favor because I believe the Clippers are dizzy awaiting the knockout blow. If the Warriors can take a win in Los Angeles the Warriors place themselves in the driver seat.

Carl Steward of the Bay Area News Group:

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about what it’s going to be like,” said Paul. “Our fans have been amazing all season and obviously I hope that it will be the same. But you just never know.”
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Rivers expressed the same sentiment, noting, “We’re going home now. Usually that would mean a safe haven. And I don’t even know if that’s true, to be honest.”

Monte Poole of CSN Bay Area:

“It’s no different,” Jackson said. “This is a game of adjustments. It’s been a great series, obviously both teams battling, competing, playing at high levels, pretty evenly matched. It’s been a lot of fun and it’s great for basketball. I don’t want to lose sight of the job that’s being done by both teams. It should be an exciting Game 5.”
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One of the keys to the Warriors victory in Game 4 was the setting of a faster pace from the outset, a byproduct of Jackson inserting second-year forward Draymond Green for center Jermaine O’Neal, who is an 18-year veteran.
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“I will go the same way, with Draymond in the starting lineup,” Jackson said. “Obviously, we’ve had success. This is a tough challenge, against an outstanding team, and we’ve got to duplicate the type of energy, effort, focus and passion that we had in Game 4.”